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North Texas Turns Heads

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North Texas Turns Heads

With their 75-6 defeat of Texas A&M, North Texas put their hand up, way up, in the Southwest Rugby Conference.

Sure, this was A&M's 2nd side as they run their 1st side in the Red River, but, still, 75-6 says something, and A&M Director of Rugby Craig Coates was highly complimentary of the Mean Green.

"We are instilling a hard work, blue collar ethos in the players," said Michael Engelbrecht, who is coaching the team along with Andrew Marshall. "We emphasize spacing, one speed, and positive-grade tackles."

It's a basic approach, and one that also emphasizes execution in the set pieces, which has paid off. The scrums, in particular, are a strength for UNT.

Not surprisingly, then, some of the top players are in the pack. Cory Dawson is a source of power at loosehead prop and hooker Walter Saravia was one of the players of the game on Saturday. Sini Tesic is the captain and can line up at lock or loose forward.

In the backs, the halfback hinge of Gregorio Chavez and Jason Hart have clicked early, and Hame Havili is a freshman find on the wing.

Elsewhere in the SWC, Houston ran in 48 on Rice and Texas State beat Stephen F. Austin. But it's clear everyone is looking at the 75 UNT scored on the Aggies and wondering what it means.