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Gamebreakers DI College Nov 16

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Gamebreakers DI College Nov 16

Lindenwood-Belleville Rugby.

When we run these Gamebreaker columns, we try not to repeat names too often.

The reason is, there are players who do unsung work we’re trying to sing about. But, as the season progresses, you start to see the same names pop up again and a again. Eventually we have to repeat someone. This is that kind of week.

Fred Bleakley, Navy

Every defense that plays Navy is worried about this outside center. He runs at branches, not trunks, and he does it at full pace. Bleakley scored a try for Navy, but it wasn’t about that; it was about him challenging the opposing defense every time he has the ball. Navy beat Notre Dame College 29-27 on Saturday, and would not have had Bleakley not been there.

Colton Swapp, Utah Valley

Known in high school as a scrumhalf, Swapp is now an electric flyhalf who led the offense in a big win over Utah State.

Andrew Guerra, Notre Dame College

One of the hardest-working players in the business, Guerra won rucks, made tackles, and was a power runner who set up his teammates in a thriller of a game that NDC just lost 29-27 to Navy.

Ben Schwartz, Tennessee

The Vols’ fullback serves as the team’s goalkicker, and wth the boot scored 11 against Kennesaw State, and he also scored a try. But the real reason he’s here is his defensive work, his steadiness under the high ball, and his counter-attacking that helped Tennessee win the SCRC final over KSU.

Darren Chan, Northeastern

Another repeat name, Chan runs the the Huskies. He’s their scrumhalf, one of their leaders, and their goalkicker. He’s a very intelligent and elusive player who’s not afraid to mix it up. He scored 13 points in Northeastern’s Liberty Conference Final win over Boston College. And that was just the beginning.

AJ Meyer, Dartmouth

Playing lock for Dartmouth this week, Meyer is relatively new to rugby but understands the game well. He leads the team just about every game in tackles, rucks hit, and carries. He’s an aggressive punisher who added a nice physical dimension to Dartmouth’s defeat of Brown in the Ivy League final.

Trevon Turner, Washington State

The wing scored two key tries for the Cougars in a win over Gonzaga. With the score 5-5, Turner scored twice to turn a deadlocked game into a 17-5 lead for WSU. The Cougars went on to win 29-15.

Jack Brennan, Fordham

The Fordham prop scored two tries and set the tone up front as Fordham hammered Binghamton.

Andrew Pearl, Fairfield

Playing fullback for Fairfield, Pearl scored 18 points with a try, a penalty goal, and five conversions as Fairfleld beat Buffalo.

Lorenzo Villani, St Bonaventure

Filling in at scrumhalf, the freshman, who is still only 17 and needs a waiver to play in college rugby, played superbly against one of the best #9s in the nation (Iona’s Connor Buckley). He was composed and aggressive and helps keep the Bonnies attack going in a 33-22 defeat of Iona.

Logan Deitner, Oregon

Oregon’s inside center led from the front, led the scoring, and kept Washington scrambling as the Ducks beat the Huskies 27-10.

Sean Lumkong, Brown

In a close loss to Dartmouth in the Ivy League final, the Brown loose forward was a workhorse, getting the job done in the breakdown and laying in key tackles.

Stephen McLeish, Lindenwood

The Lions’ hooker scored a try and continued his strong play around the field as Lindenwood beat Davenport.

Coleson Warner, Lindenwood-Belleville

Warner has been one of the best flyhalves in college rugby this fall (and before—he was the DIAA college 7s MVP, pictured above). This weekend he was excellent in leading the Lynx in a 45-15 victory over Oklahoma.

Caesar Tanklersley, Western Washington

The Vikings’ No. 8 was a key part of a defensive performance that held Oregon State to seven points.