RMLC D-I Weekly Notebook

(Photo by Lance Wendt)

by Steven C. Haymond | Special to MCLA.us

Weekend Review

No. 1 Brigham Young: Beat Colorado, 7-6; Beat No. 21 Colorado State, 16-12.
The Cougs secured two all-important conference wins in Colorado this week. BYU was tested against a dangerous Colorado team that is finding its footing after two years off. The Cougars escaped Boulder with a 7-6 win.

BYU then headed to Fort Collins for a matchup with the No. 21 Rams in Canvas Stadium. The Rams kept it interesting through three quarters before the Cougs pulled away for a 16-12 final.

Colorado: Lost to No.1 BYU, 7-6; Beat No. 16 UVU, 18-14.
The Buffs had a great showing this weekend, picking up a ranked win against No. 16 UVU and taking No. 1 BYU to the final minutes. It may have taken CU a few weeks to get their legs under them.

The Buffs senior middie George Kandel had a dominant game. The Buffs pulled off the upset over No. 16 UVU on Saturday, 18-14. Colorado heads to Southern California for shots at two more ranked squads.

No. 21 Colorado State: Beat No. 16 Utah Valley, 11-8; Lost to No. 1 BYU 16-12.
The Rams added another ranked win with a triumph over No. 16 Utah Valley, 11-8. The win also gives the Rams an important conference win that will be paramount this year in the RMLC.

After a hard fought game against the Wolverines, the Rams hosted No. 1 BYU in the beautiful Canvas Stadium venue. The Rams kept it tight for most of the game before the Cougars pulled away in the fourth.

The Longhorns picked up two non-conference games last week against a tough OSU team and rival Lone Star Alliance school Texas A&M, 16-8. The Longhorns get a week off before one last non-conference game against Texas State. Then they head into three straight conference games that will decide who goes to the the RMLC playoffs.

No. 16 Utah Valley: Lost to No. 21 Colorado State, 11-8; Lost to Colorado, 18-14.
The Wolverines dropped two crucial conference games last week. UVU took on No. 21 Colorado State on Thursday night, but were not able to down the Rams, bowing, 11-8. Utah Valley then traveled to Boulder to take on the Buffs. UVU was unable to handle lefthanded middie George Kandel, who had a monster game against the Wolverines.

UVU now has two conference losses and will need to pick up a win against rival BYU or Texas to maintain hopes for the RMLC playoffs.

Week Preview

No. 1 BYU (9-0; 2-0):
The Cougars face rival Utah Valley on Wednesday in an important RMLC game. A win for the Cougs would secure a No. 1 or 2 seed for Brigham Young in the RMLC playoffs. BYU then hosts Texas A&M on Saturday.

Colorado (4-3; 1-1):
Colorado faces another big week following two big conference games. The Buffs head to California to take on No. 17 Chapman and No. 2 Concordia-Irvine. If the Buffs can pull off two upsets here, they will be right in the mix of things.

No. 21 Colorado State (8-3; 1-2):
CSU heads into a bye week before a big trip to Minnesota.

No. 23 Texas (4-2; 1-0):
Texas heads into a bye week before a big trip out to the Rockies to take on the remainder of the conference.

No. 16 Utah Valley (5-3; 0-2):
Utah Valley hosts No. 1 BYU Wednesday night and Texas A&M on Saturday. The Wolverines need to regroup after a tough weekend in Colorado.

-RMLC Game of the Week-
No. 1 BYU vs No. 16 Utah Valley
Wednesday| 7 p.m. | Orem, Utah