FUS homecoming ends in 26-14 Loss

FUS homecoming ends in 26-14 Loss

 STEUBENVILLE, OH - The Franciscan University of Steubenville men's rugby team played the West Virginia University Mountaineers on Saturday, losing, 26-14.

The Barons faced the No. 1 team in the Allegheny Rugby Union, and for the first half this shwoed, for only after brutal tackles and rucks dealt from one side to the other were the Mountaineers able to score. The dreaded Mountaineer "rocky-ball" game of pick and go slammed in two tries, one thirty minutes into the game, and another try right before the half, sending the game into half time with a score of 14-0.

The tackling and rucking became even more ferocious in the second half, with the Barons displaying a smashmouth style of rugby that hasn't been seen in a while. 5 minutes into the second half, scrum-half Chris Pocta slipped past the WVU flankers for a try on a scrum. Not discouraged, the well-trained Mountaineers used their size to pound the Barons back, resulting in two more tries. In what was perhaps the best play of the game, Chris Pocta had a breakaway, slipped, passed the ball to Tony Gayed, and Gayed pushed and ran and drove all the way into the try zone from the 22 meter mark. Said Gayed about this incredible display of determination, "It was the first try any forward had scored this season, and I really had a lot of support from the forwards behind me."

To play this close with the best team in the ARU, an undefeated team, and one that has dispatched previous teams with ease, the Barons showed true dignity and passion. The Barons have their last regular season game against Fairmount state on Saturday at 1 p.m.