Red Wolf Rugby Falls to Life University

MARIETTA, Ga. – Arkansas State University’s rugby team ran into a buzz saw as the Red Wolves lost, 67-5, to Life University Saturday afternoon at Lupo Family Field. The loss drops A-State to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in Mid-South Conference play. Life is 2-0 and 1-0.

“We got out-coached,” said Blake White, A-State’s first-year head coach. “Our players were not ready and that is because of me. We have the talent on our team to be as good as we want to be so it comes down to me getting them ready and that is where we lacked. We will get better from this. This was a learning experience for our players and myself.”

However, White did praise the efforts of John Scotti, Zac Young and Val Balande who “stood out as good performers.”

Life, ranked second nationally, got on the board early with a penalty kick (3-0), followed by a successful try by Austin White and the Running Eagles’ conversion upped the score to 10-0.

Seventh-ranked A-State’s lone points came at the eight-minute mark in the first half when Patrick Meagher scored the try.

“Patrick had a great, quick heads-up play,” added White. “We got tackled five meters from the touch line and he saw no one there, so he quickly picked it up and dove over.”

Arkansas State returns home, Saturday, Feb. 10, to host Lindenwood University at 1 p.m., at Curt Huckaby Field, 501 Red Wolf Trail.