Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (DU Turf Field)
Score: No. 4 Davenport 13, No. 1 Life 20
Records: DU (7-6), Life (9-0)
Next DU Event: April 4, 2015 @ Michiana Men (Elkhart, Ind.)
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It was senior day for the Davenport men's rugby team as they hosted no. 1 Life University on a chilly 27-degree day on the Turf Field. Davenport was looking for its first win against Life in program history, but came up just short as they fell to the Running Eagles 20-13. Jean Pierre Eloff accounted for all thirteen Panther points, recording a try, two penalty kicks and a conversion. The Panthers will be back in action next Saturday where they will face the Michiana Men in Elkhart, Ind.
 
Davenport got on the board first just 2:15 into the game as Eloff converted on his first penalty kick of the game. After a defensive stand shortly after in Panther territory, the Panthers were able to set Eloff up for another penalty kick but this time he missed wide left.
 
Life would get in on the scoring action with 16:12 remaining as Blaine McIlroy converted his first penalty kick of the contest to knot the score at 3-3. McIlroy would then again take matters into his own hands as he recorded a Running Eagle try, as well as converting the conversion kick to put Life up 10-3.
 
Life would have another penalty kick opportunity with time expiring, but McIlroy's kick went wide left, sending the game into halftime with the Panthers trailing 10-3.
 
Both teams' defensive displays kicked it up a notch in the second half, as neither team was able to get on the board in the first 20 minutes of play. Eloff would then cut the deficit to 10-6 after converting his second penalty kick of the contest.
 
McIlroy would offset the Panther penalty kick with 15:22 remaining, followed by a crucial try from Zach Miller to put Life up 20-6 over Davenport with 9:23 left in the game.
 
Davenport refused to let up as Eloff again came through for the Panthers and recorded Davenport's first try of the game with just ten seconds remaining in the game. Eloff quick chipped in his conversion kick and set the Panthers up for one last attempt at a try with the clock reading 0:00. Davenport was able to reach mid-field, but botched an exchange that led to a Life recovery and the end of the contest.
 
As the buzzer sounded, the final score read 20-13, improving Life's record to a perfect 9-0 on the season. Davenport now sits at 7-6, and will be back in action April 4 as they travel to Elkhart, Ind. to take on the Michiana Men.
 
Men's Rugby Contact: Paul Anderson | 616-889-4062 | panderson30@email.davenport.edu
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