GRR: Belmont Abbey
Mary Washington defeated Belmont Abbey 36-11 Saturday in a non-conference early-season warmup for both.
The Southern Conference's new D1AA league is now four games in and Belmont Abbey is looking strong.
The Crusaders backed up last week's 48-17 defeat of The Citadel with an impressive 34-0 shutout of UNC Chapel Hill. This league, which is designed for school-supported teams or big schools with a D1-level talent pool, looks to be leaning toward this small school with school backing.
Belmont Abbey defeated UNC Charlotte 10-7 Saturday in an emotional Friday night for the new varsity program.
Last weekend Belmont Abbey player CJ Hopper died. CJ/s mother Cynthia and his twin brother Chris were on hand for the game and in a pregame ceremony they were presented with CJ's jersey.
The Furman Invitational wrapped up with six shortened games among four teams in the Carolinas.
Furman (of course), new varsity program Belmont Abbey, DIAA program South Carolina, and Citadel (which, like Furman, has a new coach) met up.
Three well-regarded teams from the Southern Rugby Conference (Men's D2) plus a perennial SCRC contender will meet up this weekend in a tournament of shortened games to kick off the fall in the South.