Portal:2017 Fall Men/Memorable Events
At New Mexico The team maintained a decorum and composure throughout the match as they were confronted with a significantly different approach to how the game was refed. In spite of being down 2 players for virtually 20 minutes of the match (25% of the time) and being down one player for another 20+ minutes of the match the team rallied through solid teamwork and communication for a 48 to 15 win. The UNM Lobos were excellent hosts and played with passion for the entire 80 minutes.
Rookie Lock Henry Hill scored the first try for the Zoomies at the 4 minute mark with a hard-charging run. Shortly afterward two yellow cards were given to both the team Captain, Elliot Higgins, and the team cadet in charge (President), McCord Thorley. For a full 10 minutes the Zoomies had 13 players against New Mexico’s full side. The Zoomies held strong but a scamper by David De Vos, the Lobos Flyhalf, put New Mexico on the score board at the very last minute of the lop sided playing field. Near the end of the first half as the Zoomies were driving a scrum for a push-over try Elliot Hiiggins was awarded a penalty try. Another rookie in his first ever rugby match, Tyler Vaught, come on at half and scored after side-stepping his way into the open followed by a run into the corner of the try zone. Less than 10 minutes later another set of yellow cards given to the Zoomies put them down again by 2 players with one of them, McCord Thorley, being upgraded to a Red Card. Down 2 players for the next 10 minutes and down 1 for the rest of the match the Zoomies maintained their composure while amassing another 29 points while only giving up one additional try to the lobos. Adding to Eliott Higgins 3 more scores was 1 by Casey Rothstein and 1 by Austin Lyons.