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BTU RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: BUCKEYES VS. HOOSIERS PREVIEW
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes are marching back into the Big 10 Rugby Championship for the second year in a row. Last year (2014) they met up with The Wisconsin Badgers only to fall to defeat – 34-20. The Hoosiers are returning after being crowned Champions in the 2013 season.
It promises to be an exciting afternoon this coming Saturday (Nov. 14th) @ 4:30 pm EST in Rockford, IL as the League’s two most dominating teams will meet up for the first time this season in what certainly will be a smash-mouth-old-style-rugby match.
Last weekend both teams did what they needed to do – WIN. Indiana beat last year’s champion, the Badgers of Wisconsin, 20-13 — in a hard fought match. The Buckeyes handled TTUN in the trenches 35-31.
The Buckeyes
The Buckeyes belong here. They have had a tremendous season. In Big 10 play they tunneled out a 5-0-1 record with 5 Bonus points for a total of 27. They consistently played harder and harder each week equating into the Big 10 powerhouse they have become.
JoJo Eramo leads the league in tries and is among the top leaders in total overall points. Taylor Hurff too ranks in the top three of the league’s overall points leaders and conversions. Captain Santino Cua is a hard-nose player that leads his team in spirit and example along with his 4 tries and 20 points. Other names deserving of mention for the Buckeyes are Jake Berlin and Jack Bengel the two in last week’s victory against TTUN that battled hard in the trenches. Keep in mind though the Buckeyes are loaded with more talent too: Scott Freitag – 4 tries – 20 points; Ryan Skelly – 3 tries – 15 points; Ronan Forrestal – 2 tries – 10 points; John Walsh – 4 tries – 20 points; Corey Harmon – 2 tries – 10 points; Luke Fay – 3 tries – 15 points; & Ian Hildebrandt – 2 tries – 10 points. Other names to keep a look out for are: Matt Mahoney, Brandon Heidinger, Mike Matthews, Matthew Stauder, and Nathan Grose.
The Buckeyes began their season on September 11th against Pitt – winning commandingly 57-15. The following weekend verses Bowling Green they would fall 44-22 – but in fairness some of the Buckeyes were held from this match as they prepared for the opening of Big 10 play.
Once Big 10 play began they would outscore their opponents’ 331-95. Their most convincing span ranged in the 2nd week of Big 10 play against Purdue where they stretched a 3-week roll (followed by *ichigan State and rounding out against Iowa) of pounding out 70 points or better in this time frame.
Against Wisconsin, Defending BTU Champions, a hard and bloodied pursuit would result in a tie. It was Rugby at its purest and most demanding – a match to be proud of.
TTUN by no means had plans of lying down. They had visions of heading to the BTU Championship match too – though their scenarios were in need of more help. The Buckeyes stood tall and did precisely what was needed – delivered when it was ultimately needed. I am specifically speaking of holding TTUN in the last stretch that won the game for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes are currently ranked @ # 12 nationally.
The Hoosiers
Indiana is in First place in the Big 10. Their record of 6-0-0 outlines an accomplishment every team strives for. In Big 10 play which began on September 19th against Illinois and ending last weekend against Wisconsin they would dominate against their opponents 392-56. In the Iowa game they would score 123 points. And in a non-conference game against Ball State they would tally 151 points.
A deserving mention of accomplish for this Hoosiers’ team was their victory over Davenport 18-17 – a consistently high ranked team nationally (currently @ #8).
They have a steady stream of talent as well. Leading the League in overall points is Teddy Terezis and coming in 5th is Jake Hidalo. In tries Jake Hidalo is 2nd in the league while Teddy Terezis comes in at #3. Ranked at 11th IU has three players with 5 tries: Bryce Campbell, Tyler Graham, and Connor Marsh. And Teddy Terezis, a busy player indeed, leads the league in conversions.
Their talent is similar to the Buckeyes. They have a swift style game locked in with power. Undoubtedly, on paper, the Hoosiers and Buckeyes match up nicely.
Oh, by the way, The Hoosiers are currently ranked #5 Nationally.
Overall Summation
This will prove to be a great game. Both teams, as I have mentioned, are equally matched. Their similarities in style seem to be mirrored. The difference, as I see it, it the closeness that the Buckeyes have in last year’s trip to the BTU Championship. IN is two years removed from their last trip.
Such an assumption often carries no logic – I know!
So what exactly do I mean?
The taste is fresher for the Buckeyes. The memory is more enmeshed in the present. In that taste – comes’ a drive that is simply baffling to us arm-chairs. The Buckeyes have the eye. They have the memory of last year’s defeat. They have the warrior spirit which has increased weekly as the season progressed.
IN by all means is not heading to Rockford with intent of heading back to Bloomington without a trophy. But, realistically, often being the League’s # 1 team, the projected Champion, comes’ a surprise responsibility that simply is not known by that owner. And it isn’t known until defeat is handed to them.
I am not so swift at projecting points as some do in their predictions. What I am good at though is the assumption of a victory. In Rockford look for the Buckeyes returning to Columbus as the BTU Champions in a hard fought in-your-face-smash-mouth rugby that we all love.
The post BTU RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: BUCKEYES VS. HOOSIERS PREVIEW appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes are marching back into the Big 10 Rugby Championship for the second year in a row. Last year (2014) they met up with The Wisconsin Badgers only to fall to defeat – 34-20. The Hoosiers are returning after being crowned Champions in the 2013 season.
It promises to be an exciting afternoon this coming Saturday (Nov. 14th) @ 4:30 pm EST in Rockford, IL as the League’s two most dominating teams will meet up for the first time this season in what certainly will be a smash-mouth-old-style-rugby match.
Last weekend both teams did what they needed to do – WIN. Indiana beat last year’s champion, the Badgers of Wisconsin, 20-13 — in a hard fought match. The Buckeyes handled TTUN in the trenches 35-31.
The Buckeyes
The Buckeyes belong here. They have had a tremendous season. In Big 10 play they tunneled out a 5-0-1 record with 5 Bonus points for a total of 27. They consistently played harder and harder each week equating into the Big 10 powerhouse they have become.
JoJo Eramo leads the league in tries and is among the top leaders in total overall points. Taylor Hurff too ranks in the top three of the league’s overall points leaders and conversions. Captain Santino Cua is a hard-nose player that leads his team in spirit and example along with his 4 tries and 20 points. Other names deserving of mention for the Buckeyes are Jake Berlin and Jack Bengel the two in last week’s victory against TTUN that battled hard in the trenches. Keep in mind though the Buckeyes are loaded with more talent too: Scott Freitag – 4 tries – 20 points; Ryan Skelly – 3 tries – 15 points; Ronan Forrestal – 2 tries – 10 points; John Walsh – 4 tries – 20 points; Corey Harmon – 2 tries – 10 points; Luke Fay – 3 tries – 15 points; & Ian Hildebrandt – 2 tries – 10 points. Other names to keep a look out for are: Matt Mahoney, Brandon Heidinger, Mike Matthews, Matthew Stauder, and Nathan Grose.
The Buckeyes began their season on September 11th against Pitt – winning commandingly 57-15. The following weekend verses Bowling Green they would fall 44-22 – but in fairness some of the Buckeyes were held from this match as they prepared for the opening of Big 10 play.
Once Big 10 play began they would outscore their opponents’ 331-95. Their most convincing span ranged in the 2nd week of Big 10 play against Purdue where they stretched a 3-week roll (followed by *ichigan State and rounding out against Iowa) of pounding out 70 points or better in this time frame.
Against Wisconsin, Defending BTU Champions, a hard and bloodied pursuit would result in a tie. It was Rugby at its purest and most demanding – a match to be proud of.
TTUN by no means had plans of lying down. They had visions of heading to the BTU Championship match too – though their scenarios were in need of more help. The Buckeyes stood tall and did precisely what was needed – delivered when it was ultimately needed. I am specifically speaking of holding TTUN in the last stretch that won the game for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes are currently ranked @ # 12 nationally.
The Hoosiers
Indiana is in First place in the Big 10. Their record of 6-0-0 outlines an accomplishment every team strives for. In Big 10 play which began on September 19th against Illinois and ending last weekend against Wisconsin they would dominate against their opponents 392-56. In the Iowa game they would score 123 points. And in a non-conference game against Ball State they would tally 151 points.
A deserving mention of accomplish for this Hoosiers’ team was their victory over Davenport 18-17 – a consistently high ranked team nationally (currently @ #8).
They have a steady stream of talent as well. Leading the League in overall points is Teddy Terezis and coming in 5th is Jake Hidalo. In tries Jake Hidalo is 2nd in the league while Teddy Terezis comes in at #3. Ranked at 11th IU has three players with 5 tries: Bryce Campbell, Tyler Graham, and Connor Marsh. And Teddy Terezis, a busy player indeed, leads the league in conversions.
Their talent is similar to the Buckeyes. They have a swift style game locked in with power. Undoubtedly, on paper, the Hoosiers and Buckeyes match up nicely.
Oh, by the way, The Hoosiers are currently ranked #5 Nationally.
Overall Summation
This will prove to be a great game. Both teams, as I have mentioned, are equally matched. Their similarities in style seem to be mirrored. The difference, as I see it, it the closeness that the Buckeyes have in last year’s trip to the BTU Championship. IN is two years removed from their last trip.
Such an assumption often carries no logic – I know!
So what exactly do I mean?
The taste is fresher for the Buckeyes. The memory is more enmeshed in the present. In that taste – comes’ a drive that is simply baffling to us arm-chairs. The Buckeyes have the eye. They have the memory of last year’s defeat. They have the warrior spirit which has increased weekly as the season progressed.
IN by all means is not heading to Rockford with intent of heading back to Bloomington without a trophy. But, realistically, often being the League’s # 1 team, the projected Champion, comes’ a surprise responsibility that simply is not known by that owner. And it isn’t known until defeat is handed to them.
I am not so swift at projecting points as some do in their predictions. What I am good at though is the assumption of a victory. In Rockford look for the Buckeyes returning to Columbus as the BTU Champions in a hard fought in-your-face-smash-mouth rugby that we all love.
The post BTU RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: BUCKEYES VS. HOOSIERS PREVIEW appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...