USMMA, Stony Brook Battle for Supremacy in Empire Conference

Friday Night Lights usually refers to football, but all eyes at @USMMARugby-King’s Point will be on rugby tomorrow as the Mariners take on the Seawolves of @stonybrookrugby in a battle for first place in the Empire Rugby Conference.

Both teams are 4-0 with USMMA leading by one in the point scale.

USMMA Rugby

Coming off a 24-0 shutout of Syracuse, USMMA will look to the likes of hooker Josh Raines (two tries against ‘cuse) and flyhalf Steve McGuire to tame the rowdy ‘wolves, who dominated Brockport at home last week.

Stony Brook Rugby

Stony Brook was led by flanker Phil Salter and prop Jimmy Sheridan as the team’s powerful forwards drove an attack that left Brockport trailing 43-5 before a late push by the Golden Eagles made the final score 43-17.

USMMA head coach Ali Nazir knows something about Stony Brook’s approach to rugby. He played for Stony Brook as an undergraduate and was forwards coach for the men’s team and head coach for the women’s team from spring 2007 to January 2010.

Stony Brook Head Coach Jerry Mirro

“What I do expect is that Kings Point will be up for the game. I expect them to be a physical side and in great shape,” Stony Brook Head Coach Jerry Mirro told Rugby Today. “I expect us to adjust to the situation.”

Stony Brook plays at USMMA-King's Point on Friday Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Upper Roosevelt Field in Stony Brook, N.Y.