The Dawg Days of Fall

The Water Dogs delivered another blowout win this weekend with a 59-19 result away at Boulder, but a second-half resurgence from the home side which the visitors struggled to contain left the Dogs determined to make improvements this week ahead of a tough matchup against Park City. The second consecutive 5-table-point victory is a crucial gain in the Dogs’ fall campaign as we reach the midpoint of the regular season.

The Water Dogs comprehensively ran the first half, beginning with an early assertion of physical dominance. Having kicked off first, the Dogs defused Boulder’s first attacking possession with an impressive open-field maul that resulted in a turnover scrum. Although windy conditions hampered handling and—along with a few overly ambitious offloads—killed several promising attack opportunities, the Dogs’ control of the set-piece and the physical battle delivered tries for usual suspects like Dan Prochoda, Scotty Nies, and Jacob Goeppner, and a certified Forwards’ Classic scrum push-over try dotted down by 8th-man Jacob Russell. Loosehead Zack Jessell showed he was feeling the Halloween spirit when he put on his winger costume for a pair of tries, running both in from some 40m out: one from a line break out wide, another shooting up defensively to intercept a Boulder pass.

A rugger's best friend.

Perhaps overly comfortable with the bonus point secured and Boulder nilled coming out of halftime, cracks in the Water Dogs’ defense began to emerge. Lapses in defensive organization as well as indiscipline around tackle height and the breakdown gave Boulder possession, territory, and ultimately three tries. Although the margin remained comfortable and enabled the Dogs to clear their bench, coach Kevin Mann pinpointed disconnects within this shuffled lineup as an area the team would need to address. Head coach Scotty Smith likewise identified the difference in tone between how the Dogs started the game and how they finished it as a key area for improvement. Flanker Alex Fitch, who assumed captaincy duties after skipper Chris Wiessing came off, stressed the importance of the Dogs staying morally and mentally united in the face of adversity.

Still, as coaches and players emphatically agreed, this second big win in a row is cause for celebration, and the Dogs remain in striking distance of the top of the table. The Water Dogs will enjoy a well-earned extra day of recovery this week ahead of a Sunday matchup with Park City Haggis next weekend, the last team the Dogs have yet to face this season.

Water Dogs bind up with Colorado Rush teammates after Thursday’s team run.

Water Dogs XXIII

1. Zack Jessell

2. Rodney Cordova

3. Matt Anglin

4. Chris Wiessing (c)

5. Dan Prochoda

6. James Fuller

7. Alex Fitch

8. Jacob Russell

9. Tyler Ingram

10. Scott Nies

11. Sam Patterson

12. Mo Vainikolo

13. Daytwon Sheridan

14. Sefo Selevasio

15. Jacob Goeppner

16. Duncan Frost

17. Austin Dozier

18. George Bristow

19. Trevor Wilder

20. Jesse Adelberg

21. Juta Vakabuta

22. Francis Goonan

23. Kris Coleman