The Fighting Illini traveled to Ann Arbor this past weekend on a wet Saturday to take on the Michigan Wolverines but the Maize and Blue prevailed in a 41-20 victory. Michigan is 3-0 in the Big Ten and 6-0 overall.
The Wolverines got off to a quick start, moving down the field quickly. In the second phase of Michigan’s offense after recovering their own lineout, Joel Conzelmann received the ball and ran through a gap in the Illinois defensive line to walk into the try zone for the 10 meter score. Conzelmann was able to convert giving the Wolverines a seven point lead in the 3rd minute. It looked like Michigan would score again soon but the Illini were able to keep them out. Illinois then drove the ball back down the field and managed fair bit of possession over the next 15 minutes. In the 9th minute Illinois was awarded a penalty which they opted to kick for points. The attempt was successful making it a 7-3 game. They were awarded another penalty in the 26th minute but were unsuccessful in converting this attempt. In the 35th minute, Michigan was awarded a penalty which Conzelmann attempted to kick for points but was unsuccessful. Illinois opted to run the ball out from the try zone. However, Michigan was able to regain possession quickly and Stuart Starkweather ran the ball in for a five-pointer. Conzelmann converted the try making it a 14-3 score. Michigan kept the pressure up and was awarded another penalty in the 38th minute which Conzelmann converted successfully this time. The Wolverines weren’t stopping however and Seqouyah Burke-Combs broke through the Illinois defensive line from 50 meters out and scored the long try on the last play of the half. Conzelmann converted giving Michigan a 24-3 lead at the break.
The second half opened up to a similar performance by Michigan, keeping the pressure on the Fighting Illini. In the 58th minute Michigan was awarded another penalty which Conzelmann kicked for points and was successful. Following it up, Kenny Andutan pounded the ball over the try line in the 63rd minute. Conzelmann was successful on the conversion making the score 34-3. The kickoff allowed Michigan to put together a fantastic team try. Cole Van Harn battled his way up field before a solid ruck allow the Wolverines to move the ball wide. The backs handled the ball smoothly, setting Matt Kasten away down the left sideline for Michigan’s 5th try, making it a 41-3 game. Michigan emptied the bench but unfortunately took their foot off the gas. Illinois was able to score three quick tries in the last six minutes converting only one of the 3 tries to make the final score 41-20 after what was a very complete showing from the Wolverines for 75 minutes.
1. Nick Fehrman (Arnett 55′)
2. Evan Rourke (Wagner 66′)
3. Jordan Ulmer (Shapiro 63′)
4. Stuart Starkweather
5. Drew Vecchio (Burns 68’)
6. Kenny Andutan
7. Sequoyah Burke-Combs
8. Cole Van Harn (Fenno 66′)
9. Ian Etheart (Palladino 64′)
10. Joel Conzelmann (Borowski 71′)
11. Cooper Smart
12. Christian Mentzer (Noon 63′)
13. Zack Burns
14. Chris Padmos
15. Matt Kasten
16. Ben Shapiro
17. Brennen Arnett
18. Jackson Wagner
19. Zack Burns
20. Jesse Fenno
21. John Palladino
22. Evan Noon
23. Mark Borowski
Tries: Conzelmann 3′, Starkweather 36′, Burke-Combs 40′, Andutan 63′, Kasten 65′
Cons: Conzelmann 3′, 36′, 40′, 63′, 65′
Pens: Conzelmann 38′, 58′
The B-side game saw a tough matchup for the Wolverines as many Michigan players subbed in for the Illinois side. However the Michigan B-side was triumphant in the end with a 36-31 score.
Michigan player Cody Griffin started off the scoring but for a different team than usual, giving Illinois a 7-0 lead. Mark Borowski responded in turn with a try of his own for the Wolverines which Evan Noon could not convert, making it a 7-5 game in favor of Illinois. In the 11th minute, another Michigan player would score, but again for a different team. Matt Ko ran his way into the try zone to put Illinois up 14-5. The Wolverines didn’t give away all their talent however and John Palladino drove his way through the Illinois defense to score a try for the Maize and Blue. Noon converted it successfully. Illinois responded in turn in a very back and forth game, getting a try of their own and making the score 12-19 in favor of Illinois. The next score came off the hands of Max Arevuo who made a heads up play to pick the ball out of a ruck and sneak in for a try. Noon could not convert however. Following the theme of the game, Illinois drove right back down the field to score yet another try on the Michigan defense. The Wolverines kept their heads up however and in the final minute of the half they scored the final try of an see-saw, offense filled, explosive first half. Noon converted to tie the game up at 24-24.
In the second half both defenses took control of the game a bit more after two early scores. The first came three minutes into the half as Mark Borowski hit a hole in the Illinois defense and blazed through for the try. Noon missed the conversion however, making Michigan’s lead a tenuous 29-24. Illinois soon regained the lead themselves three minutes later scoring a try in response and converting it to gain the lead at 31-29. At this point both defense began to get a grasp on the game and the pace and explosiveness of the plays waned. However, the Wolverines were determined to come out victorious and with 10 minutes left in the game Arevuo picked up his second try of the day with a successful conversion by Noon to give the Maize and Blue a 36-31 lead. From there the Wolverine defense closed out the game by pressing on the Illinois lines and not allowing big breaks. The game would end with the final score of 36-31 with Michigan claiming the win.
1. Ben Shapiro
2. Jackson Wagner
3. Brennen Arnett
4. Zack Burns
5. Jason Anthony (Davidson 42′)
6. Cam Watson
7. Chening Duker
8. Jesse Fenno
9. Max Arevuo
10. Evan Noon
11. Mark Borowski (Cheng 42′)
12. John Palladino
13. Riley Hanson
14. Uygar Ozdemir
15. Cody Brown
16. Alex Davidson
17. Kevin Cheng
After the B-side game, a mixed group of players from the A and B sides banded together to make a C side to play in a friendly game against the nearby Spring Arbor University Rugby team. It was a great game that gave a young Spring Arbor team a lot of experience on the pitch against a good opponent. Great individual plays from each side were spread throughout the game and it was quite the game to watch. In the end, the final score was 49-34 in favor of Michigan’s side, but it was a game that was less about score and much more about learning and enjoying playing the game of rugby. UMRFC certainly looks forward to future games against the young and growing team, and it was a fitting game to end a day of phenomenal rugby.
