Franciscan 29, Slippery Rock 17

HOUSTON - Franciscan and Slippery Rock are separated by just 80 miles, but the pair of teams traveled over 1,300 miles to square off for the third time this season on the grandest stage, the NCR Division III National Championship. With the Ohio Valley covered with inches of snow on Saturday evening, a cooler Texas day with temperatures in the 50s and windy was the perfect setting for this big-time matchup.

Slippery Rock kicked off to Franciscan, as the Barons were attacking into the wind in the opening half. The Barons struggled to get the ball out of their end in the early going, as the Rock earned a tough try after a lineout just 10 meters out. The short conversion kick from the middle was no good to give them a 5-0 lead. 

Just like the National Semifinal against Holy Cross, the Barons were not phased by the early deficit. Just six minutes later, the Barons scored a methodical try of their own, as Abraham Schmiesing got it over the line. Nate Bateman converted the kick to give Franciscan a 7-5 edge. 

A scary moment for the Barons occurred at the 20 minute mark, as Christopher Ascough had to be carried off the field. The Barons rallied and made a large defensive stand as they held up the Rock in the try zone to get a turnover. The Barons then got a man-up advantage at the 28 minute mark, but they did not take advantage. Instead, the Rock regained the lead with a man-down try and held a 12-7 lead.

Past the 40 minute mark, Lex Lang made a couple of defenders miss and scored on a 20-meter try to tie it up. Bateman converted the kick to give the Barons a 14-12 lead at halftime. 

The Barons were now attacking with the wind in the second half, which helped them move the ball into the offensive end with regularity in the early going of the second half. At the 47 minute mark, a Slippery Rock player committed a penalty and was sent off for 10 minutes. Halfway into the man-up advantage, Dominic Grecol battled his way in for a try in the far left corner. Bateman missed the kick, but the Barons now held a 19-12 advantage.

Grecol came up big on the defensive end moments later, as he held up a would-be try to deny Slippery Rock points. The Rock were not denied a few minutes later, as they punched in a short-handed try to set the score at 19-17. 

Momentum swung the way of the Rock at the 64 minute mark. Tanner Harris was called for a dangerous play and sent off the field to the sin bin. His teammates picked him up right away by winning the scrum and punching in a try. Schmiesing was the one to get it across to set the score at 24-17. Bateman made the corner conversion, as the ball kissed off the left upright and went in for two more points. 

Franciscan now had all the momentum and all the pressure was on the Rock. The Barons were still short-handed, but continued to apply pressure. They drew a penalty about 30 meters out, and they elected to try a kick. Bateman came through in the clutch once again with a beautiful kick that extended the lead to 29-17 with just five minutes to play. At that point the Barons knew that they had won, but they had to play hard to close it out. Slippery Rock was not able to advance the ball into the wind all half. On a restart, Joseph Moleski booted the ball out of bounds as the final whistles were blown.

Franciscan Rugby = National Champions !!!

Jacob Leerkes was named National Championship MVP, and the Barons were presented the Cohen Cup, as fans, that made the trip, stormed the field. The Barons displayed their toughness and depth all weekend, as this group believed in each other to win the program's first National Title.

Tries: Schmiesing (2); Lang (1); Grecol (1)

Kick conversions / Penalty Kicks: Bateman (4/5)

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