It comes down to the next two weekends for the Empire Rugby Conference, where two games worth of points separates 1^st from 6^th .

In first place is Army, which won’t move on in the playoffs. They take on Syracuse Sunday after playing a non-league game against Air Force on Friday. Syracuse, 4-4 and with 23 points, is mathematically unable to catch Army, but could still catch Buffalo, who are 2^nd . They will have to do it in two days, as on Saturday they play the Merchant Marine Academy (1-9).

Buffalo, 6-2, plays SUNY Brockport, who are third at 5-2-1. The winner of that game sits in excellent position.

Waiting for everyone to falter is St. Bonaventure, 5-2-1 and just behind Brockport. Bonnies plays Rutgers (2-6).

Empire Saturday Matches
Brockport at Buffalo
Rutgers                at St. Bonaventure
Syracuse at USMMA
Stony Brook at Iona

Sunday Matches
Fordham at Stony Brook
Syracuse at Army


In Heart of America, Missouri looks to build on their good start as they take on 0-3 Kansas.  Lindenwood looks virtually untouchable, 3-0 and an average winning margin of 90 points. They play Oklahoma State who are 1-2.

HOA Games
Missouri at Kansas
Lindenwood at Oklahoma State


In the Keystone in Pennsylvania, Pitt has started brilliantly and at 4-0 are heavily favored over 1-3 West Chester. At 2-1, Temple and Millersville could make a statement if one knocks the other off. St. Joe’s is also 2-1, and favored over winless West Virginia on what has been selected is an Official Athletic Event at St. Joseph’s University during Family Weekend.

Temple at Millersville
West Virginia at St. Joe's
Pitt at West Chester

In the East Coast, it’s simple: #1 plays #2. Middlebury is 5-0 after beating a solid AIC team 48-19, while Boston College is right behind them at 5-1. Middlebury could easily have been upended by AIC last week, but got seven tries from seven different players – Sam Finkleman, Ben Stasiuk, Brian Sirkia, Griffin Jones, Allan Stafford, Nate Brown, and Cole Baker. Dylan Whitaker and Laird Silsby were superb on defense and Sirkia added five conversions and a penalty. With kicking like that, BC better be careful.

BC had to really work at it to edge University of Massachusetts 9-0 last week. Such a tense match could put them in the right frame of mind.

AIC at SoConn
Albany at Northeastern
Boston College at Middlebury
UMass at UConn


In the MAC, it’s all decided, as Bowling Green as bowled over everyone. Northern Illinois has 2^nd wrapped up, and really the only suspense is who might finish third out of Dayton, Ohio, or Central Michigan.

Ball State at Dayton
Bowling Green at Miami
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois
Cincinnati at Ohio