Pre kick-off, the team gets ready to debut for the Big10
This past Saturday, September 20th, UMRFC traveled down to Champaign, Illinois to take on the Fighting Illini in their Big 10 debut. The game would be cut short at 45 minutes of A-side play due to severe rain and lightning, however those short 45 minutes were enough for the Wolverines to show that they are ready to dominate the Big 10 this year.
The game’s scoring started early and didn’t stop. Michigan kicked off and recovered their own kick, but a lost breakdown a few phases later caused possession to reverse. Illinois pressed the attack and drove into the Michigan 22, but the aggressive launch defense of Michigan gave Zack Burns (So.) the opportunity to pick off an Illinois pass and sprint straight down the field for an 80 meter try. Tohy Rakotovololona converted the try to take a 7-0 lead 5 minutes in. However Illinois took the ball back soon after a few Michigan errors and at the 9 minute mark one of their props was able to rumble forward and score a try for the Illini which was successfully converted. The next 20 or so minutes saw back and forth play with both teams vying for field position and with several Michigan errors keeping them out of the try zone. However at the 27 minute mark it was clear that the work the Wolverines had already put in was starting to grind down the Illinois defense. Chening Duker bounced off tackle to tackle and took the ball in for the try. Tohy converted to give the Maize and Blue a 14-0 lead. From here the floodgates opened up, with Andre Cargill scoring at 31 minutes with a conversion from Tohy. Cooper Smart broke the line at 37 minutes and dished the ball to Duker for the easy try, without a conversion this time. Then in the last minutes of the half Smart got a try of his own, speeding his way around the defense on the edge to end the half with another Wolverine score with a long conversion miss from Tohy, making the score 31-7 at the half.
In the second half with the stormclouds rolling in, the Maize and Blue were eager to make a statement fast in case the game would be cut short. Taking the ball off the kickoff and driving up fast, the Wolverines were awarded a scrum near the Illinois 22m. In the scrum the Illinois tighthead was awarded a yellow card for collapsing the scrum and Michigan took the penalty, swung the ball out wide and Smart scored his second try, picking the ball up out of the ruck and extending to put the ball over the try line. Tohy missed this conversion, making the score 36-7 42 minutes into the game. A minute or two was played after this until the storm rolled in and the game was called. Overall, while a bit slow starting, UMRFC was glad to come out and debut for the Big 10 with such a dominating performance. Unfortunately the game couldn’t go 80 minutes and no B-side games were played, but the win was awarded to Michigan anyway. The Wolverines next look to take down the Wisconsin Badgers at home in 2 weeks time on October 4th. This game will be a grudge match for Michigan as they look to avenge their close loss to Wisconsin a year ago.
Cons: Rakotovololona 5′, 27′, 31′
