By Thomas Schmiesing
Staff Writer
The Franciscan University Barons rugby team beat the Case Western Reserve Spartans 65-10 on Sept. 16 in their second home game and second win of the season.
The Spartans took an early lead, scoring three points from a penalty early in the first half. The Spartans continued to apply pressure after their early score.
Both teams battled back and forth near midfield until senior outside center Andrew Normandin broke through the Spartans defense and scored the Barons first try near the six-minute mark.
Senior flyhalf Vincent Prezzia made the conversion to put the Barons up with a 7-3 lead.
Energized by the score, the Barons continued applying attacking pressure and forging forward through the Spartan defense.
The Barons scored another try ten minutes into the game, followed shortly by another try after an intense scrum.
The Spartan’s left wing began to show signs of weakness, and the Barons exploited it by targeting that area for two of the three additional tries that were scored in the course of that half.
Prezzia rounded out the Barons scoring with three more conversions before the half, putting the score at the end of the first half 38-3 Barons.
Starting the second half, the Spartans made defensive adjustments and held the Barons’ offense at midfield. Eventually the Barons were able to weather down their defense and scored a try on the left side of the field.
The Barons continued the flurry of offensive pressure, scoring four more tries to make the score 65-3.
The Spartans, after being locked down for most of the game by a stalwart Barons defense, were finally able to get a breakaway and score a try and conversion during the 77-minute mark.
This made the final score of the game 65-10 for a decisive Barons victory.
The Barons rugby team looks to continue their winning streak in next Saturday’s game against the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes, building off of their huge wins in both this week’s game and the previous match against Xavier University.