Rugby Wins in 74-0 Road Match Over Texas
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Arkansas State University put on another scoring show to defeat Texas, 74-0, in collegiate rugby here Saturday. Freshman Louis Neal led with three tries, followed by two apiece from freshman Keagan Barrett and sophomore Tino Msasanure.
The victory puts the Red Wolves at 4-0 on the year and elevates their point output to 297-6 against their opponents.
“Texas is an up and coming team who is coached very well,” said head coach Blake White. “Coach Zac Mizell and the other former Red Wolves have them headed in the right direction as a program.
“This was a great trip for us. A lot of our guys got to see their families and really came together as a unit from long travel together. We’re very much looking forward to our week off and preparing for a talented Iowa Central team.”
Barrett got the scoring underway with a successful try nine minutes in to give A-State the early 5-0 advantage. Two minutes later, sophomore Isaiah Poku added a score to make it, 10-0. Barrett had his second try, and with the conversion by Dylan Boast, upped the lead to 17-0.
Boast, a senior from Los Angeles, then scored under the posts with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. His conversion made the Red Wolf lead, 24-0. With six minutes on the clock, Neal had his first try and Boast was good on the conversion. The lead was 31-0.
With two minutes showing on the clock, sophomore Asa Carter’s score under the posts and Boast’s conversion made the score, 38-0. The first period ended with the try by Pedro Alvarez and kick by Boast. A-State went in at the half with a 45-0 lead.
The Red Wolves came out in the second half and senior fullback Valentin Balande was able to score 10 minutes in. With the A-State lead at 50-0, Msasanure had his first try in the corner, leaving the score at 55-0.
At the 21-minute mark, Neal had his second try under the posts and Boast’s conversion set the score at 62-0. Msasanure was good in the corner with his second score as the clock wound down to 12 minutes left. Neal closed out the win with his third try and Boast’s conversion left Arkansas State’s victory at 74-0.
“The young Texas team showed great determination and sportsmanship,” added assistant coach Matt Guest. “Fortunately for us, we were able to impose our will in the set pieces, which gave us great attacking positions. From there, our guys were able to do a wonderful job staying within our game plan and taking advantage of the opportunities they were given.”
Later in the seconds game, Romain Merlo, a freshman from Biarritz, France, scored three times to help lead the Red Wolves to a 62-5 win over the Texas squad.
Arkansas State will take a week off before returning Saturday, Oct. 13, to host Iowa Central Community College at Curt Huckaby Field. Start time is 1 p.m.
