Christendom Rugby CRC's – Day 1 Recap

The Christendom Crusaders put on a show of heart, grit, and determination on Day 1 of the NCR DIII Collegiate Rugby 7's Tournament. Despite a tough opening loss, the team rallied to finish the day with back-to-back wins, earning a spot in the Bowl Consolation Bracket Final against VMI, set for 10:00 AM tomorrow.

Game 1 – First Round DIII Cup Bracket
Final Score: Christendom 17 – Denver 19
Try Scorers: Chris Santschi (2), Charlie Ackla

The Crusaders got off to a rocky start in their tournament opener, giving up a try to Denver on the very first play of the game. But the team quickly responded with resilience, dominating the rest of the first half. Christendom controlled momentum and stormed back with three unanswered tries—two from Chris Santschi and one from Charlie Ackla—to take a commanding 17-7 lead deep into the second half.

However, the tides shifted late. Denver mounted a fierce comeback, scoring twice in rapid succession to edge ahead 19-17. The final play of the game nearly flipped the script again—Jude Burkett collected the ball deep in Christendom's end and sprinted coast-to-coast in a stunning solo effort. With the try line in sight and victory within reach, Burkett was brought down at the last second, with a Denver defender getting under the ball to prevent the grounding. The whistle blew, and the Crusaders were dealt a heartbreaking defeat in what was arguably the most dramatic finish of the day in the entire tournament.

Game 2 – Bowl Consolation Round 1
Final Score: Christendom 12 – Richmond 7
Try Scorers: Charlie Ackla, Jude Burkett

Looking to bounce back from the narrow loss, the Crusaders came into their second match with renewed focus. In a game defined by tight defense from both sides, Christendom managed to find the edge in the first half, with tries from Charlie Ackla and Jude Burkett giving the Crusaders a 12-0 halftime lead. Richmond struck back with a lone try in the second half, cutting the lead to five, but the Crusader defense held firm in the closing minutes. The game turned into a physical battle of attrition, and Christendom came out on top, securing a much-needed 12-7 win.

Game 3 – Bowl Consolation Round 2
Final Score: Christendom 19 – Nichols 17
Try Scorer: Charlie Ackla (3)

In their final game of the day, the Crusaders were dealt a harsh wake-up call in the first half, as Nichols came out firing and put up 17 unanswered points before halftime. But the second half belonged entirely to Charlie Ackla. The senior leader took matters into his own hands, scoring three consecutive tries in a dominant individual performance to claw Christendom back into the game. His efforts tied the game at 17 before a successful conversion gave the Crusaders a 19-17 lead. Christendom's defense then held on to complete the stunning comeback, capping off an emotional rollercoaster of a day with their second win.

Up Next:
Saturday – 10:00 AM
Bowl Consolation Bracket Final: Christendom vs. VMI