UN Reno vs. Fresno State (Photo: Jackie Finlan)
Below is a brief update of today’s playoffs and ramifications in future rounds. Sunday will be the final round of conference playoffs, and then all of the regional championshp participants will then be known. Stay tuned for more detailed match reports and/or interviews.
SPRING DIVISION 1
PACIFIC MOUNTAIN
The PMRC West is now guaranteed three teams in the DI Spring Round of 16. Chico State got the automatic berth, and Stanford and UC Davis won their respective semifinals today to advance to the regional championship. The Cardinal defeated Oregon State 97-17, and the Aggies bested Washington State 36-22. The PMRC North teams will face each other Sunday to determine the fourth seed to playoffs.
Even though Stanford and UC Davis will play for the PMRC #2 seed Sunday, it’s safe to assume that the Cardinal will be playing at home in two weeks time.
MASON-DIXON
Virginia Tech shut out USC 67-0 to end league play and thus solidify the conference’s five seeds heading to playoffs: #1 UVA, #3 UNC and #5 James Madison will head to East Carolina April 21-22; and #2 Virginia Tech and #4 Pittsburgh will head to Life University for the Spring Round of 16.
SPRING DIVISION II
GOLD COAST
Long Beach State and UC Irvine played to a 27-15 decision to the 49ers during the regular season and an even closer game evolved today for the conference’s second seed to playoffs. Long Beach triumphed 17-14 and will head to Stanford with conference winner Claremont in two weeks.
MID-AMERICA
Women’s Rugby at Kansas State defeated Arkansas 75-5 in yesterday’s championship play-in and will face John Brown, which received a bye Saturday, in the final at noon.
SOUTH INDEPENDENT
Alabama led Kennesaw State 24-5 before the reigning spring champion started its comeback and two-point win. The Owls will now play Tulane, which defeated University of Georgia 38-7 today, in a 2017 SIRC championship rematch. Both teams heads to regional playoffs.
WEST COAST
Fresno State shut out UN Reno in the second half of the West Coast final, winning 78-17 (interviews and photos to come). Inside center Moriah Halteman was named MVP. Both teams are to report to Stanford for the DII Spring Round of 16.