A great fall, muddy day for rugby
The Wolverines battled a physical Michigan State team in East Lansing this past Saturday. The Spartans challenged Michigan through the first half but eventually the game broke open for a 52-12 victory for the Men in Blue.
The aggressive Spartans pressured U of M early through maintained possession and a rush defense. Although occasionally on their heals, the Wolverines held in their own half and kept MSU off of the scoreboard. MSU was able to do the same to the Wolverines for the first 24 minutes but as Michigan found ways to stay in the State half, their scoring chances increased. Eventually a try had to come and it was a short side move that put wing Matt Kasten in the left corner from less than 20 meters out. The long conversion was missed by Joel Conzelmann leaving the score 5-0.
Michigan State fought back and held a long possession in the Michigan half. Michigan was forced to make a lot of tackles but were up to the task. Solid pressure in the backs allowed outside center Jared Bosma to get a steal. With possession regained, the Wolverines worked back towards the MSU goal though a handling error ended the threat. But the knock-on gave Michigan a chance to assert their scrum dominance. The next five minutes were highlighted by scrum steals, MSU penalties, and a yellow card to State flanker John Iadipaolo for repeated penalties. Cole Van Harn capped off the battle with a try from five meters out after another stolen scrum. Conzelmann nailed the conversion and the Spartans were in trouble.
Michigan State would be given some help before halftime though as Nick Fehrman was sent to the bin for repeated ruck offenses by the Wolverines. The score was 12-0 at half but with Iadipaolo returning for the start of the second, Michigan State could push their advantage. Unfortunately Iadipaolo charged into a jumping Sequoyah Burke-Combs on the kickoff forcing referee Dave Jameson to give Iadipaolo his second yellow and subsequent red card, sending him off for the remainder of the game. The numbers and score were now in Michigan’s favor for the duration. An errant handle from a kick moments later allowed Christian Mentzer to go in untouched. Conzelmann converted. Some smooth handling in the backs from an MSU kick six minutes later put Matt Kasten in for his second and the momentum was completely in Michigan’s favor.
Michigan needed a bonus point win to book their place in the Big Ten Championship Game. They now had the bonus and simply had to close the door on the Spartans. But State didn’t let it go that easily. A few weak tackles allowed MSU onto the Michigan doorstep and this time the Wolverines couldn’t keep them out. State put in a try and regained some momentum. However, the man advantage was too much and U of M found gap after gap sending Van Harn in for his double at the 57 minute mark from a Zack Burns offload. Burns then got one himself down the same left sideline six minutes later. Right wing Chris Padmos struck a good line for a try on the right side four minutes after that. Finally Stu Starkweather capped off the Michigan scoring with their eighth try four minutes following.
The rout and championship opportunity were cemented. But credit to Michigan State for fighting the full 80. And in that 80th minute they punched in their second try from close quarter crashes. Converted to end the game, it was a 52-12 Michigan victory. The Wolverines now take on Indiana for the Big Ten Championship at 2:00pm on November 9th in Elkhart, IN.
1. Nick Fehrman (Arnett 5′, Shapiro 67′)
2. Evan Rourke (Wagner 67′)
3. Jordan Ulmer (Arnett 57′)
4. Stuart Starkweather
5. Drew Vecchio (Burns 64′)
6. Kenny Andutan
7. Sequoyah Burke-Combs (Duker 57′)
8. Cole Van Harn (Fenno 60′)
9. Ian Etheart (Palladino 67′)
10. Joel Conzelmann
11. Matt Kasten
12. Christian Mentzer
13. Jared Bosma (Burns 53′)
14. Chris Padmos
15. Tohy Rakotovololona
16. Jackson Wagner
17. Ben Shapiro
18. Brennen Arnett
19. Zack Burns (Fr)
20. Jesse Fenno
21. Chening Duker
22. John Palladino
23. Zack Burns (So)
Tries: Kasten 24′, 48′, Van Harn 35′, 57′, Mentzer 42′, Burns (So) 63′, Padmos 67′, Starkweather 71′
Cons: Conzelmann 36′, 42′, 58′, 64′, 68′, 71′
Yellow: Fehrman 38′
The second game offered game time for U of M’s developing players as well as added to the storied Michigan versus Michigan State rivalry. The game was additionally a rematch of an earlier game this year won by Michigan 44-10. The game pitted hard charging Spartans against the undersized but elusive Wolverines. Both sides put in good tackles to start the game but fiery Cam Watson got Michigan on the board first. Evan Noon knocked over the centered try to put U of M up 7-0.
Michigan State charged back at the Michigan line but the Men in Blue held firm, allowing Noon to clear the ball away. MSU penalties allowed Noon to put in a few more kicks to touch, advancing U of M up the field. Eventually freshman lock Zack Burns showed off his speed and broke away for the next Michigan score. Noon also converted and the lead was 14-0. Shortly after, U of M was back on the MSU doorstep where another freshman lock, Jason Anthony, banged in another try. Michigan would take this 19-0 lead into halftime.
The second half saw additional stout defense from the Maize and Blue. Beating back the State runners and pressuring for turnovers. Zack Burns (So) came on for Even Noon at flyhalf and scooted in for a self-converted try at the 34th minute. The ever elusive Chening Duker added a late try as well. But the score the day came from a Max Arevuo box kick. Put up from about 60 meters out, the ball hit the deck and bounced into the hands of wing Kevin Cheng on the right sideline. Working across field it looked as though he would score only to be caught five meters away. The surprise came when he deftly offloaded to none other than Arevuo who finished it in the left corner. A great example of how to support a break.
The match ended shortly after without the Spartans getting the board. A proud 36-0 victory for the Wolverines.
1. Brennen Arnett
2. Jackson Wagner
3. Ben Shapiro
4. Zack Burns (Fr)
5. Jason Anthony
6. Jesse Fenno
7. Cam Watson
8. Chening Duker
9. Albert Foo
10. Evan Noon
11. Mark Borowski
12. Riley Hanson
13. Matt Ko
14. Drew Calcaterra
15. Kevin Linder
16. Nick Azzopardi
17. Travis Sawyer
18. Jake Alchek
19. Nolan Webb
20. Cody Griffin
21. Max Arevuo
22. Zack Burns (So)
23. John Palladino
24. Kevin Cheng
25. Colin Ward
26. Cody Brown
27. Ben Clemens
Tries: Watson 7′, Burns (Fr) 20′, Anthony 22′, Burns (So) 34′, Duker 48′, Arevuo 50′
Cons: Noon 7′, 20′, Burns (So) 34′
