OK we're getting serious now.
Eleven D1A, NCR D1, and D1AA conferences are in action this week (twelve if you count independent teams as playing conference games, which we probably should) involving 82 teams.
The Rugby East gets completely immersed in its season with Army at St. Bonaventure, UMW at Southern Virginia, Mount St. Mary's at Kutztown, and Queens at Navy. All of those have ramifications of varying degrees. Perhaps the most intriguing is MSM at Kutztown because that informs where the balance of power is in the middle of the conference.
Mount St. Mary's Embraces New Goals As They Start 2-0
NOTE: Queens at Navy has been moved up to 4PM Friday because of the impending arrive of tropical storm Ophelia, which is expected to hit the North Carolina-Maryland region Saturday.
Liberty sees Iona get on the field (finally) after a frustrating weather postponement. Iona is at a very good Fairfield team, while a strong AIC side takes on Siena.
The Big Rivers gets conference play going and it's a week of established teams against question-mark teams. Aquinas has been around but has needed some time to build its roster—hence the 0-5 record in the Big Rivers last year. This year they kicked off their season by scoring over 100 points. So they could be a really interesting challenge for a Marian side that has been playing very well.
Iowa Central hosts a Principia team that has jumped up from D2. Yes Principia is a very small school, but it's a school-supported team and they are dangerous. Principia lost 22-3 to a Lindenwood XV, while Iowa Central CC lost 80-17 to Arkansas State, but most would think Iowa Central as the more established Big Rivers team. Thomas More has been hit hard a bit and will have a good challenge against Rio Grande.
D1AA
There are several matchups that tell us much. Is Alabama a contender in the SCRC? Their match against Kentucky helps answer that. Western Michigan is at Bowling Green, and GRR will be there for a classic rivalry.
Boston College has started well and takes on a Binghamton side that has been playing good rugby. HOA upstarts Nebraska host Iowa State, while Kansas State at Kansas is another great rivalry game to watch.
