NCR Final Four 
Franciscan (10-2 | 3-0 ARU) vs. Holy Cross (8-2 | 4-1 NERFU) 
Friday, Dec. 12th | 5:00 p.m. EST
Sabercats Stadium | Houston, Texas

Watch | 2025-26 Roster | Bracket | NCR Championship Info

The Latest
- The Barons earned a trip to the NCR Final Four with a series of impressive wins over nationally ranked teams in the tournament so far
- After beating #9 Susquehanna 24-19 in the regional play-in, the Barons faced #1 Virginia Military Institute
- The Barons showed their case for being one of the best teams in the country by controlling the match from the start and winning 29-19
- A late run from the Keydets was not enough to deny the Barons
- In the Elite 8, the Barons faced #11 Duke, who was in the Final Four last year and had been ranked #1 earlier this season
- The Barons dominated the entire game, smothering the Blue Devils 36-10
- They now face #7 Holy Cross Crusaders in Houston on Saturday for a trip to the title game

Scouting the Crusaders
- The Crusaders come in winners of their last three games, like the Barons.
- Their Elite 8 win came over #3 Nichols, who had beaten them two other times this season, once in the regular season and once in the NERFU Conference Championship.
- They have proven the ability to come back from large deficits. In the win against Nichols and Springfield in the Sweet 16, they came back from double-digit holes in the second half. 
- Last season, they were National Runner-Ups, as they beat Duke in the Final Four and lost to Wayne State in the Championship. 

The Coach
- Franciscan Head Coach Jason Adams is in his 7th season and holds a record of 50-14 (.781) in 15s matches while coaching the Barons
- He has made the national sweet 16 in five of his six opportunities, and this is his second Final Four berth.
- In his first season, 2019-20, the Barons went 11-0 in the Fall to earn a spot in the Final Four. That was to be played in the spring of 2020, but it was canceled due to COVID-19.
- The Slippery Rock grad gets a chance this weekend to coach in a Final Four and showcase the Barons on a national stage 

The Irishman
- The Barons have been led by the stellar play of sophomore Irishman Christopher Ascough this season
- The flyhalf from Loughlienstown, Dublin, Ireland was a NCR Rising Star last season and played in the Collegiate Rugby All-Star Game
- He looks poised to be an All-Star once again, and potentially an All-American
- So far in the championship tournament, he ranks 2nd among all players in points with 27, 3rd in tries with three, and 4th in conversions with six

The Captain
- Joining Ascough as a major impact player this season is team captain Joseph Moleski
- The sophomore scrumhalf has gained support as a potential DIII national player of the year candidate
- Moleski is the vocal leader and engine of the Barons on the pitch 
- He was featured on the Instagram account for The College Rugby Show following the Barons' win over VMI after he sent in a masterful 35-meter drop goal in the match
- Moleski also joined Ascough as a NCR Rising Star last season and looks to once again be an All-Star, and potentially All-American 

With a Win
- With a win, the Barons would earn a berth in the National Championship game for the first time in school history.
- They would face either New Mexico Tech or Slippery Rock
- The Barons have never faced New Mexico Tech
- If they were to face Slippery Rock, that would be the third matchup between the two teams this season
- The Barons won the first contest 15-7 at home in the regular season, while the Rock defeated the Barons in the ARU Championship game for the fourth consecutive season with a 26-20 win
- They have played each other at least twice in all four of those seasons
- In recent years, they have become one of Franciscan's biggest rivals
- A rubber match in the National Championship game would be a fitting end to the season for both teams
- The Championship game will take place on Sunday, December 14th in Houston

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