The final game of the weekend was an instant classic as the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks successfully defended their Division II title in a 38-29 win over the University of Northern Iowa Panthers that was much closer than the final score indicates.
The Crimson Hawks showed no signs of fatigue after their epic double-overtime semifinal clash with the Norwich Cadets on Friday night, putting the first points on the board five minutes into the contest thanks to a stellar effort by Ethan Miller.
Tenacious tighthead Cam Taylor contorted his body at the tryline while taking on three UNI tacklers to dot the ball down and put IUP up two scores. An incredible try by IUP’s Dylan Deasy, directly after fly-half Jentry Staack put UNI’s first points on the board, had the potential to all but lock up a repeat title for the Crimson Hawks. The winger received the kickoff and booted a beautiful ball that he himself collected. Before any Panthers realized what was happening Deasy was blazing down the pitch for the score.
But the Panthers were not ready to head back to the locker room with their tails between their legs. After a brief scuffle in the try zone following Deasy’s score, Dylan Johson showed some of the fire that has carried the Panthers throughout their playoff run. The senior broke through several tackle attempts and emphatically dotted it down. A late converted penalty by UNI cut the Hawks lead to 7 at the half.
The teams traded glancing blows to begin the second half before the Panthers finally connected on a punch at the 58 minute mark. Elston Lindsner was able to muscle over the line after a series of goalline pick and go’s wore down the Hawks defense, but a missed conversion attempt by scrumhalf David Randall that doinked off the cross bar meant the Panthers still trailed by two.
With the UNI defense focusing in on dynamic ballcarrier Dominic Holmes his fellow backs were able to find some extra space to operate. Fischio took full advantage of the chances he was given and his second score of the day increased UNI’s deficit to nine points. But the Panthers marched right back down the field and number 8 Elliott Sinnwell muscled his way onto the scoresheet with just ten minutes left in regulation.
Perhaps looking to spare his team another overtime session, IUP scrumhalf Declan Cringle broke into the open field and saw only a second national championship in front of him. Though the Panthers caught up to Cringle before he could find paydirt, he was able to set up Taylor, who stepped the last defender and put the ball down directly under the sticks to seal the victory for the Crimson Hawks. Number 16 Grant Euker was named DII finals MVP.
In the DII third place match the Norwich Cadets made short work of the Towson Tigers 72-17. Will Moulton and Marius Edwards had two tries a piece for Norwich and inside center Kristopher Wayton added a score of his own on top of four successful conversions. For the Tigers, Brayden Simmons and Stephen O’Donovan were the try scorers.
Watch the replay on The Rugby Network+.
