Butler, Pennsylvania - The Bowling Green Men's Rugby Team (9-3, 5-1 MAC, 2-0 Nationals) beat Virginia Tech (7-0 Overall, 5-0 MARC) in a 71-24 victory in the NCR National Quarterfinal to give the Hokies their first loss of the season. BG now faces Louisville (7-0, 6-0 MAC) in Butler, Pennsylvania in the Semifinal for the NCR Nationals Tournament on December 6th, at 1 pm at the Pullman Rec Center Reserve Field.

"The Virginia Tech game was simple. We walked into the game ready to play how we want to play regardless of the opponent," said Fullback Joey Apel. "Virginia Tech was not even a thought while playing, it was us vs ourselves, and we continued to push ourselves to play the best rugby we could for all 80 minutes." 

Going into the quarterfinal match, Virginia Tech (7-0 Overall, 5-0 MARC). The Falcons had narrowly defeated the Hokies 20-18 in the 2024 Semifinal. This year the Hokies won the MARC to be back-to-back-to-back champions. This conference win gave Virginia Tech entry into the tournament at the Quarterfinal, while the Falcons had to first defeat Babson. However, at the end of the day the Falcons emerged victorious, booking their ticket back to the National Championship Semifinal.

"The forwards maintained power, we dominated the scrums, lineouts and set the platform up for the backs to do their jobs. Our backs ran their backs," said Assistant and Forwards Coach, Brad Stott. "I kept reminding them that the score doesn't mean anything and that the game is never over until the last whistle blows, and until then it is zero zero."

Bowling Green arrived in Butler with a chip on their shoulder. The team knew that Virginia Tech was looking for revenge from the previous year's Semifinal elimination in Reading. However, the Falcons started the game with their foot on the gas. Within the first five minutes, All-American Fullback Joey Apel opened the scoring and made the first conversion attempt of the game. From there BG took off, exploding to a 28 point lead going into the half. In the second half Bg started right where they left off, with another four tires and two conversions making it 47 unanswered points . However the Hokies managed to get two in conversions and a try to make it 47-12. The Falcons emptied the bench before getting another try to make it 53-12. Virginia Tech pulled one back to make it 47-19. BG would get another 14 points from two tries and conversions. Virginia Tech would get one last try to make it 67-24. Center John-Luke would score the final try for the Falcons to round out the scoring 71-24 and finalize the victory. Overall, the Falcons played a very strong game and had solid execution throughout. 

NOTABLES

• Joey Apel leads the D1-AA tournament with 6 conversions

• Joey Apel leads the D1-AA tournament with 17 points

• Gianpaolo Sferrella, Griffin Wilson, and Phil Tracey are tied first in the D1-AA tournament with two tries each. 

• Falcons return to the National Semifinal 

Bowling Green (9-3 Overall, 5-1 MAC, 2-0 Nationals) will advance to the Semifinal following the 71-24 win over Virginia Tech. The Falcons will face Louisville (9-0 Overall, 6-0 MAC, 1-0 Nationals) in a rematch of the 2025 MAC Final on Saturday, December 6th at 1 pm at the Pullman Rec Center Reserve Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st XV

Bowling Green 71, Virginia Tech 24

• Kickoff

• Fullback Joey Apel scores and converts (7-0)

• Flanker Phil Tracey scores (12-0)

• Apel converts (14-0)

• Tracey scores his second (19-0)

• Apel converts (21-0)

• Scrum-half Griffin Wilson scores (26-0)

• Apel converts (28-0)

• Halftime: (28-0)

• Prop Cody Luther scores (33-0)

• Wing Kasey Hathaway scores (38-0)

• Apel converts (40-0)

• Wilson scores (45-0)

• Apel converts (47-0)

• Virginia Tech scores (47-5)

• Virginia Tech scores and converts (47-12)

• Hathaway scores (52-12)

• Virginia Tech scores and converts (52-19)

• Flanker Colton Crabiel scores (57-19)

• Radke converts (62-19)

• Radke scores his second (64-19)

• Rake converts (69-19)

• Virginia Tech scores (67-24)

• Center John-Luke Weiler scores (71-24)

• Final Score: 71-24