The noisy independents who've quietly built a case for the postseason.
 
Showing little rust after two weeks of inactivity, the Grand Canyon University Men's Rugby team posted its most dominant win of the season, shellacking San Diego State University, 61-10, Saturday afternoon in San Diego, California. The Lopes end their first regular season as an independent with an overall mark of 5-3, and while narrowing missing a bid for the USA Rugby Round of 16, which begins in two weeks, they're awaiting a possible berth as part of the revamped College Rugby Association of America Championship Weekend during the first weekend in May in Houston, Texas.

The Lopes jumped out the gates early, taking a 35-3 edge into the halftime locker room. The nine-try effort was balanced from the start, with Jackson Gray and Reese Prefontaine finding the try zone twice each, and Jared Tavares, Lachlan Jackson, Tai Miller, Isaac Browning and Juan Felan each ringing up one score. Luke Neely was nearly perfect with his foot, going 8-for-9 in two-point conversions. The win kept the Lopes perfect lifetime against the Aztecs, winning all five contests between the two schools since 2018.
 
"It was the best overall performance we've put together this year," said Lopes' Head Coach Sean O'Leary. "We had a tough schedule this season, but we've learned from it, and gotten better because of it."
 
While now assured that there will be no postseason play for them in the month of April, the Lopes are now eyeing May 5-7 in the Lone Star State as part of 2023 CRAA Championship Weekend. The Lopes are mulling the possibility of competing in the USA Rugby College 7s National Championships for the first time since 2019 during that weekend, but have also may have other options within that same Houston event. Details are still being finalized by the CRAA.
 
"Not making the USA Rugby Playoffs was tough to swallow, but we'll finish our season with the 7's Championships or possibly a bowl game, so we still have plenty to play for," said O'Leary.