Lindenwood Lions Still King of the Jungle: #2 LU vs #3 BYU Recap

 Lindenwood vs BYU Recap

On Friday, Lindenwood University and Brigham Young University squared off in one of the most riveting matches of the 2023 Fall season. BYU held off their opposition for 70-plus minutes only to fall victim to the powerful set piece of LU. As I predicted, Lindenwood tested BYU early by putting the ball to boot. Although the Lions were solid in the aerial game, their set piece was really the bright spot. For BYU, Friday's match was a day full of missed opportunities.

The Cougars drew blood first with pick and go try from flanker Lilo Clark. Fullback Taysan Hammer slotted the conversion to put the Cougars up 7-0. BYU really dominated the first half in terms of territory and time of possession. Lindenwood tried to put them under pressure with kicks, but Taysan Hammer had nearly a flawless performance under the high ball. As predicted, BYU kept the ball in hand most of the first half and ground through the phases.

BYU really could've been up one or two more scores at the half but made some foolish mistakes that forfeited their attack opportunities. Cole Semu had an early break but knocked on the ball in contact. Wyatt Parry charged down the ball and would've been gone but couldn't corral the ball. Mafi Mauhinga knocked on the ball in the attacking zone after the Cougars strung together a heap of phases. There were at least three miscues in the lineouts for BYU in the attacking zone. BYU had a few sequences where they looked really sharp on attack, but they just couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. 

The second half belonged to Lindenwood. The Lions started off the half by winning a scrum penalty, some foreshadowing for the rest of the second half. A not-rolling-away penalty put the Lions in the BYU half. On the ensuing lineout, Eduan van Heerden scores the first try for the Lions on a textbook tip ball. BYU then responded quickly with a well-manufactured try from Wyatt Parry. John Campbell gave a perfect out-the-back ball to Parry and one dummy pass opened a path to the try line for him. BYU went up 14-7 with a sideline conversion from Hammer. 

BYU really looked in control for the next twenty or so minutes. They defended well and had chances to add points, but mistakes in the set piece really started to let the Cougars down. Lindenwood's front row dominated BYU's front row. Chad Tinney really gave the Cougar's scrum trouble. 

The last ten minutes were all Lindenwood! In the 72nd minute, the Lindenwood front row did just that. They obliterated the BYU scrum and then somehow smuggled the ball away from the Cougars in a very messy ruck. Alejandro Martizen Tapia picked up and ball and ran right through the middle of heavy traffic. Tapia stretched for the line and committed what looked to be a pretty clear knock-on to the naked eye. After a conference with the touch judge, the referee awarded the try to the Lions. The touch judge and referee had a much better angle than the broadcast cameras so they get the benefit of the doubt on that one. 

The Lions kept the pressure on the Cougars and found their way over the try line yet again. Inside Center Declan Ries broke through tackles of a few Cougars and landed over the line, putting the Lions up 19-14 conversion pending. 

BYU had a few more attacking opportunities but the momentum really belonged to LU. BYU had found success all match keeping the ball in hand. They unwisely departed from that in the last four minutes with an attempted cross-kick that was not contestable. The Cougar's only hope to equalize the match would've been a penalty by the Lions, but they weren't quite patient enough to earn one of those. Lindenwood really shored up their defenses and held the Cougars in the end. 

It truly was a fantastic performance from both sides. I cannot emphasize how impressed I was with the Lindenwood scrum. Their scrummaging won them the game. I still think their attack needs some work. Other than a late line break from Nick Hardrict, the Lions really didn't manufacture many attacking opportunities for themselves. All three of their tries started from within fifteen meters of the try line. Their discipline in the breakdown really provided them with opportunities the Cougars didn't have. If Lindenwood wants to contend for a national championship, they need to enhance their attack. They looked very one-dimensional, and most of their meters gained coming from flat balls or penalties. They need to create levels of attack to move the ball to the edges. Nick Hardrict rarely got the ball and when he did he made a huge break. Lindenwood should look to use Hardrict out wide more often moving towards the spring. 

On the other side, BYU's attack looked very dangerous. Finishing power was lacking big time though. In terms of total line breaks, BYU outperformed LU. But BYU had offloads not going to hand, ruck penalties, scrum penalties, and lineout miscues that all kept them out of the try zone. If BYU wants to make a run in the spring they need to fix their set piece issues. To see a BYU team, who historically has been rock solid at scrum time, get dominated like that was shocking. In addition, the Cougars should look to improve their finishing power and focus on taking advantage of the opportunities that come their way. 

Great performance by both teams and congrats to LU on the win.