The Life University men’s club rugby team defeated the Austin Blacks in the D1 Club National Championship 28-27 over the weekend. Both teams battled in the early minutes, as Sam Cowley put points on the board first to give Life U an early 3-0 lead 18 minutes into the game. Zac Mizell scored a try five minutes later with a successful conversion from Cowley to put the Running Eagles ahead 10-0.
The Austin Blacks responded with back-to-back penalties; however, Cowley broke through the defense to score his first try of the match in the 38th minute. With a successful conversion, Cowley gave the Running Eagles a 17-6 lead. Seconds before the halftime whistle, the Austin Blacks were awarded a penalty try to make the score 17-13 at the half.
Three minutes into the second half, Cowley converted another penalty to put Life U ahead 20-13. A kick through the defensive line saw the Running Eagles’ Austin White come up with the ball to score the try and extend their lead to 25-13 with a little more than 25 minutes remaining in the match.
The Austin Blacks refused to go down without a fight and scored a try in the 58th and 65th minute to take a 27-25 lead over Life U. Battling for possession, the Running Eagles earned a penalty just outside the 22 in the Austin Blacks territory that set up Cowley for the win. As the clock ran to less than a minute, Cowley converted on the penalty to put Life U ahead 28-27. The Running Eagles maintained possession of the ball until a kick out of bounds brought on the final whistle with Life U earning the title, 28-27.
For his efforts during the match, Cowley was named the match MVP with a try, two conversions and three penalties.
The full recap from FloRugby, including interviews, can be found here: Life U Victorious in D1 Club National Championship.
About Life University
Founded in Marietta, Georgia in 1974, Life University is a health sciences institution most known for its chiropractic program, the largest single campus chiropractic program in the world. Life University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Chiropractic degrees, and also has programmatic accreditation through the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The mission of Life University is to empower students with the education, skills and values necessary for career success and life fulfillment, based on a vitalistic philosophy.
