BUENA VISTA, VA - Under the lights of the Fields, the Southern Virginia University Rugby team pulled off
the unthinkable, with a 34-33 last-second victory over Kutztown University.
Last year, the Knights traveled to Kutztown University and lost to their hosts by one point on a score
with no time left. This year, however, the tables would be turned.

On Friday night, the Knights faced off against the visiting Golden Bears, who were recently polled at #6
in National Collegiate Rugby's Division I rankings. The Golden Bears started off quick, with an
intercepted pass for a try less than thirty seconds into the match, leading to a 7-0 lead. The Knights
responded with a penalty kick by senior Wei Stanton, which cut the deficit to 3-7. The Golden Bears
were able to add two more tries to take a 19-3 lead late into the first half. But the Knights did not give
up. Patience and penalties led the Knights to finding possession deep in the Golden Bears half of the
field, and then junior Apa Tokelau was able to crash over the line for the try. Stanton added the
conversion, and the score was now 19-10, in favor of the Golden Bears.

The Knights were the first to score in the second half, with sophomore Nate Roeback streaking down
the sideline into the corner for the try. But the Golden Bears responded with two tries of their own, and
led 33-15 with less than twenty minutes to play.

But once again, the Knights did not give up.

After a penalty by the Golden Bears near their own goal line, senior Sione Ofa took a quick tap-in for
the try, and with Stanton's conversion, the score was 33-22. Several minutes later, freshman David
Kendig was able to cross the line for the try. Stanton once again converted, and the score was 33-29
with less than ten minutes to play. The final minutes of the game were nail biting, with both teams
trading possession and penalties before the Knights were able to secure the ball. A dominant run from
Roeback in extra time set up the Knights just meters away from the try line, and after a couple phases,
sophomore Weston Memmott, fresh off a wrestling dual just days prior, was able power over for his first
ever try and the game winning score.

And that was that. Final score: Knights 34, Golden Bears 33. The comeback and upset were complete.

Coach Marshall Ferris on the victory

"Immensely grateful to Jake and the boys from Kutztown for the incredibly tough match. We knew the level of play we needed to be at with their 6th place ranking in the nation leading into the game. They are a quality outfit and we knew the challenge ahead was going to be a tough one and that it was, going down to the wire like that at the end. As a coaching staff we knew that we were capable of a performance like that it just hasn't come until now unfortunately. But it is a positive and something that we are looking to build off of heading into our final Rugby East matchup against Mary Washington next Saturday. 

The platform was set from the forwards and that is a credit to coach Aidyn Ferris and the work he has done with these boys. Their physicality and connection on both attack and defense made it real easy for our backs to do their thing out the back. The biggest positive on the day was the effort and fight shown from the lads until the end. It's been a year with some ups and downs for sure and we needed this as a group and the joy was evident after the final whistle. This is a tight knit group and they wanted it for each other which made it even more special. Huge shout out to those who made it out to support it was an amazing atmosphere and definitely lifted the boys in those final moments."

Tries scored by:

Sione Tokelau

Nathaniel Roeback

Sione Ofa

David Kendig

Weston Memmott

William Stanton - 3 conversions, 1 penalty

The Knights will conclude their fall season at home against the University of Mary Washington on
Saturday, November 11th.