PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Baron rugby continued to dominate the 3 Rivers Rugby Conference  with a 66-10 win over Carnegie Mellon University, which added to Franciscan's undefeated season and brought their record to 6-0.

While the match against CMU eventually followed the Baron's pattern of blowout wins, it didn't start that way.

"We started out a little bit slow," head coach Chris Courtnell. "They were able to put us under pressure but we were able to hold them off."

The most intense pressure of the first half came with the ball pinned down five yards from Franciscan's try zone. After a few minutes of holding off the Tartan's scoring attempts the Barons were able to gain control of the ball and flip the field position. FUS took over the game from there.

"We got into our groove and we really started to fire on all cylinders for the rest of the game," Courtnell said. "It was our experience and our depth that separated us."

First half tries from five different Baron ruggers claimed the lead and ballooned it to a 33-3 score at the half. There was no sluggish start in the second half as Franciscan subbed in some fresh legs and increased their pace of play.

"Carnegie Mellon has a good coaching staff but they had a lot of young guys in during the second half and that's where our experience and depth came through," Courtnell said. "Our subs came off the bench, we hit a second gear and they just didn't have an answer for us."

It was in the second half that Franciscan's Man of the Match, junior Ian Miller, first showed up on the score sheet but his impact was felt throughout the match. The starting prop won the honor for the second time this season, the first time coming after the Rugby Ruckus.

"He was solid in the forwards and really kept the pack together," Courtnell said. "He carried the ball into contact well and just commanded the team from the front."

Miller was also part of the Baron's improvement on their offensive execution. Courtnell said the team did a good a job of pressing the ball into the middle, sucking the defense in, and then kicking the ball out to the gaps on the wing.

Cournell also said he was happy with the team reducing their turnovers and improving their tackling from their previous matches.

"The guys are all playing for each other, pushing each other and pushing themselves," Courtnell said. "Every week, everybody is getting a little bit better with the details."

The Barons have to win one last game to finish their regular season undefeated but their final opponent is Robert Morris University. Last season RMU came within a last second penalty try of beating Franciscan in the 3RRC Championship match, and they currently sit in second place in the conference behind FUS.

"They're our divisional rivals and they always bring their A-game so we know we're in for a big challenge," Courtnell said. "We're relishing it. We're always looking for that next challenge."

That final regular season challenge will take place at Robert Morris University on Saturday, October 18 at 3 pm.