The Florida DIAA college year started this weekend with Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Florida State all winning in competitive games.

The biggest winning margin of the weekend was only 11 points, with Florida State defeating Florida International 31-20.  

It was a tale of two (windy) cities. The FIU backline was crisp and cohesive and used did well to use the wind in their kicking game. That served to pin FSU in their end in the first half. A mismatch of backs versus forwards set up FIU's opening score in the first six minutes.

Florida International added a penalty goal after a scrum penalty and in fast Florida State had problems giving up penalties on scrum time. 

FSU did finally get a scoring chance and Colin Mackaness was over, but two more FIU tries in the first half using some excellent backline play and using the wind, put them up 20-5 at the break.

BUt of course Florida State got the wind in the second half, and they were in better shape to use their big forwards, especially because it was more difficult for FIU to kick out of trouble.

Mackaness powered over for his second six minutes into the second half, and then Dominic Trunkett scored in his debut game for the first side. On the front foot now, FSU was able to disrupt FIU possession and then Jack O'Keeffe scored 26 minutes into the second half to put FSU ahead. Ilan Egosi added another to seal it 31-20.

FSU started four freshmen of which only scrumhalf Benz Celestin had any rugby experience prior to college; Celestin, like O'Keeffe, is a Cardinal Gibbons product and was hugely infuential in the win.

Central Florida defeated North Florida 28-20 in a game that was perhaps closer than expected. 

But paced by a speedy backline featuring center Louis Prevost and fullback Jon Colecraft-Peters, and with No. 8 Michael MacNeil getting key meters, UCF saw it through. 

But North Florida hung tough.

It was a wild, back-and-forth clash between Florida and Florida Atlantic. FAU ran out to a 10-0 lead thanks to tries from fullback Michael Tierney and prop Alekzander Thabet. But the Gators replied 30 minutes in with flanker Zach Tirrell going over and fullback Justo Olivero converting. Still up 10-7 FAU extended their lead with a tryin the centers but just on the stroke of halftime No. 8 Pedro Fernandez went over for Florida and it was 15-12 FAU at the break.

In the second half it didn't get any less tight. FAU held the lead but couldn't quite shake the Gators. Flanker Peter Sinoyiannis scored to make it 20-12 only for UF center Connor Murray to touch down. Olivero's conversion made it a one-point game 20-19. Then flyhalf Alexander de Montes scored and converted for a 27-19 lead. Florida kept on coming and in the final minutes Fernandez got his second with Olivero converting. 

That made it 27-26 FAU, and while there was time for one more shot, Florida Atlantic held on.

So three games decided by a total of 20 points, and all to play for going forward.