Wheeling, W.Va. – In a brutally physical match, featuring smash mouth running up the middle, Wheeling Jesuit Rugby overcame the size and power advantage of St. Bonaventure to rely on its fitness and determination to put the game away 29-10.
 
Junior prop Andrew Ohmann opened up the scoring in the 4th minute, punching through the line and diving over for the first try of the match.  The conversion was missed by junior wing Brandon Stine, 5-0. St. Bonaventure answered back with a penalty kick against WJU to make it 5-3.  St. Bonaventure took the lead 14 minutes later by smashing it ahead through multiple phases until a WJU defensive breakdown resulted in a St. Bonaventure try and a successful conversion to make it 10-5.  For the next 10 minutes, WJU struggled to finish off some excellent attacking rugby to only knock it on or be driven to touch inches from the goal line.  At the 34th minute, WJU sophomore scrumhalf Zach Stramanak caught the opposition napping and darted through to tie up the ball game.  Stine's conversion was good to put Jesuit up 12-10. The game remained that way going into halftime. 
 
The second half started with the same approach by St. Bonaventure, but WJU's defense was a brick wall.  After transferring from outside center to scrumhalf, junior Allan Hanson scored at the 56th minute with a dummy pass of the base, scooted in, and touched down under the posts to extend the lead to 17-10.  The conversion by Stine was good, making it 19-10. Known for big hits and brutal contact, sophomore center Dawson Day made his offensive presence felt in the 61st minute when St. Bonaventure attempted a clearance kick deep in their own end and kicked directly to Dawson. Catching the corner on the first defender and then beating the next three tacklers, Day notched another try on the WJU scoreboard 24-10.  The conversion missed. The final try of the night was in the 66th minute. After taking a half to settle down and find his rhythm, freshman flyhalf, Ryan Maguire took advantage of an overly aggressive defense and grubber kicked a ball through.  The ball was scooped up by transfer sophomore and inside center Inosi Kau, who beat the last few defenders to the try zone making it 29-10.  Kau was a physical presence all night long.  On both sides of the ball his opposition often found themselves on the losing end of the contact points. Final Score - Jesuit 29 St. Bonaventure 10.
 
Game Notes – WJU gutted out a well deserved win...The Cardinals had to go deep into its bench for reserve players and while it may not have been the prettiest of wins, it was hard fought, scrappy and well deserved.
 
Sophomore wing Killian Gause, who has been lighting up the scoreboard in the JV games all season, got his first Varsity start of the season. 
 
Freshman prop Courtland Smith showed determination as it took him a half to step up into college level scrummaging. He showed the strength of his open field running with numerous 40-60 meter breaks. 
 
Wheeling Jesuit improved as the game wore on, kept their discipline and focus, began to fix their mistakes during the match, and opened up the scoring as the game unfolded. 
 
The win moves Jesuit Rugby's record to 4-2.  The Cardinals will be back in action when they travel to Grand Rapids, MI on October 18^th to take on Davenport University.  Game time is set for 1pm.