The undefeated BG rugby team will return to action this Saturday as they head down to Oxford to take on its arch rival, the Miami Redhawks.
The Falcons clinched their 31st straight Mid-American Conference title past week after defeating the Ohio Bobcats. The conference title streak started in 1982 when current Rugby Director Roger Mazzarella was the captain of the team.
Miami is 2-5 on the season, but they will be fired up to host No.9 BG.
The Redhawks’ season rides on this game. If they beat the Falcons, that would be an accomplishment to add onto the whole season and end it on a strong note.
“Although we are undefeated, we never underestimate a team’s ability and go into each game with a strong mindset,” said lock Alex Garnaut. “This week is no different.”
BG has gone through the whole season, as “the team to beat,” so this weekend will not be much different. There will be a big target on their back on Saturday in the minds of the Miami Redhawks.
“I played and coached too many games against them,” Mazzarella said. “I’ve listened to that ‘Miami Whammy’ garbage for nearly a half-century, and nothing has given me greater sporting pleasure than beating those guys.”
The Falcons have only lost to the Redhawks twice in the past 31 years. The Miami slogan, “Miami Whammy,” doesn’t apply in the sport of rugby between the two teams.
Miami came close to ending BG’s MAC streak this past fall. It was a wild game that ended in a game saving tackle by wing Nolan Cavano at the goal line, and the Falcons won 42-38.
This year is a different Miami team, so the Falcons don’t know what to expect.
“They lost a lot of talent, so we just have to recognize their strengths early and take them away,” said Head Coach Tony Mazzarella.
BG has two big pieces back in their lineup. Matt Marquette is back at fullback after missing most of the season due to fractured bones in his face, and flanker Frank Viancourt should be back from a sprained ankle.
With players starting to come back from injury, look for the Falcons to be a stronger team than the team that beat Cincinnati and Ohio this past weekend.
People like to compare sport to war, and BG is treating this game like war. They are ready for the Miami charge and expect hand-to-hand combat the whole game.
The game will kick off this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Oxford.
