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Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Bryan Park)
Score: DU goes 3-0 in Pool D
Next DU event: Sunday, Nov. 24 – College 7s National Championship Cup Elimination Round  – All-Day
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Davenport men's rugby team looked to have more success this season in pool play at the College 7s National Championship this season after going 0-3 last year. The Panthers had a huge day at the national tournament as the going 3-0 in pool play defeating Auburn, San Jose State and national runner-up two year ago Central Washington. After mainly playing in 15s play for the fall season head coach looked for his team to be competitive and they did just that going 3-0 on day. The Panthers will wrap up the national tournament on Sunday as they start the day against Dartmouth in the Cup Quarterfinals at 9:20 a.m.
 
Davenport vs. Auburn
 
Davenport opened the day against Auburn, who won the Southeastern 7s Conference to qualify, and DU opened the scoring as Nick Glocke scored the first try of the day in the first minute of the game. Reece Czarnecki continued the hot start for DU as he added two more tries to put the Panthers up 15-0 at half time.
 
DU picked up were they left off to start the second half as Vershawn Burke scored a try, followed by a try by Michael Houston and a conversion by Jean Pierre Eloff to take a 27-0 lead. Mason Baum scored the final try of the match and Eloff made his second conversion of the match to close out the scoring in 34-0 win.
 
Davenport vs. San Jose State
 
In game two of the day, Davenport went up against the winner of Pacific Western 7s, San Jose State, who was making their first appearance at nationals in 41 year. DU continued their hot start in the tournament Michael Houston opened the scoring capped off by a conversion by Jean Pierre Eloff to take the early 7-0 lead. The Panthers shutout streak ended as San Jose State was able to score a try to make it a 7-5 game. However, Davenport came right back and put two more tries on board, one by Recce Czarnecki and the other by Mason Baum, and Eloff and Sondai Adjei made conversions to give DU a 21-5 advantage at half time.
 
Gabe Sochanek started the scoring in the second half with a try and Eloff was good on the conversion, putting DU by 23 points. DU closed out the game scoring three more tries by three different players, Czarnecki and Baum both scored their second tries of the match while Kevin Lydon scored his first of the match. Eloff went 2-for-3 on the conversion attempts on the final three tries, as the Panthers walked away with the 47-5 win.
 
Davenport vs. Central Washington
 
In the final pool play game of the day DU faced off against perennial powerhouse Central Washington in what was the most anticipated game in pool. Central Washington was the national runner-up in sevens play two season ago and sits at No. 6 in the Rugby Mag 7s rankings, while Davenport was ranked No. 12 in the rankings.
 
The game did not see as much scoring as the previous two games, but it there was still plenty of intensity, as Reece Czarnecki opened the game with a try and Jean Pierre Eloff was unable to make the conversion. Mason Baum scored a try to give the Panthers a 10-0, but just before half time Central Washington scored a try and capitalized on the conversion as the score was 10-7 in favor of Davenport at half time.
 
There was no scoring in the second half as DU was able to hold off Central Washington to win the game 10-7 and take the pool by going 3-0 in the pool and advancing to the Cup Quarterfinals.    
 
The Panthers will close out the College 7s National Championship Sunday as they start the day off playing Dartmouth at 9:20 a.m. in Greensboro, N.C. at Bryan Park.
 
Men's Rugby Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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