No. 1 Navy Rugby Dominates No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s 62-10 Behind Ten-Try Offensive Explosion
By Brian Hradsky
October 20, 2026
The top-ranked Navy Midshipmen men’s rugby team continued its undefeated season Saturday afternoon with a commanding 62-10 victory over No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s at Echo Field in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Navy scored 10 tries, including five in each half, to overwhelm its in-state Rugby East opponent and improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in conference competition. Liam Gray and Connor Scott led the offensive attack with two tries apiece, while senior Kade Williams contributed 12 points on six successful conversion kicks. The victory marked the fifth time Navy has surpassed 50 points this fall and the third time the Midshipmen have scored at least 10 tries in a single match.
Navy Establishes Early Control With Four Unanswered Tries
Navy entered the matchup ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Rugby Association of America Division I-A power rankings and immediately demonstrated why it earned the top position. Gray opened the scoring at the 8:37 mark with the first try of the afternoon, and Williams converted the kick to give Navy a 7-0 advantage. Sean Donohue followed with another try at 13:42, extending the Midshipmen’s lead to 14-0 after Williams added his second conversion. Navy’s aggressive offensive approach prevented Mount St. Mary’s from establishing momentum during the opening stages of the contest.
The Midshipmen continued attacking through their forwards, creating scoring opportunities and controlling possession deep in Mount St. Mary’s territory. Hutch Coward crossed the try line at 19:27, and Williams converted again to extend Navy’s advantage to 21-0. Scott then delivered the first try of his collegiate career at 25:10, giving the Midshipmen their fourth score in less than 26 minutes. Williams remained perfect on conversion attempts during the opening stretch, pushing Navy’s lead to 28-0.
Mount St. Mary’s finally broke through at 33:24 with a successful penalty kick, reducing the deficit to 28-3. However, the Mountaineers struggled to maintain offensive possession against Navy’s physical defense and organized forward play. Jake Cornelius answered with another Navy try at the 40-minute mark, and Williams converted to complete an impressive first-half performance. The Midshipmen entered halftime with a commanding 35-3 advantage after scoring five tries and converting all five opportunities.
Midshipmen Continue Offensive Onslaught After Halftime
Navy wasted little time extending its lead during the second half as Maximus Buono crossed the try line at the 45-minute mark. Williams connected on his sixth conversion of the afternoon, increasing the Midshipmen’s advantage to 42-3. The score continued a strong stretch for Buono, who had recorded his first collegiate try the previous week against Life University. His contribution also demonstrated the offensive depth that has become one of Navy’s defining strengths throughout the season.
Trevor Gayron added another try in the 52nd minute, extending the lead to 47-3 and keeping the Mountaineers under constant pressure. Scott followed at the 58-minute mark with his second try of the contest, completing a memorable performance after scoring the first try of his career earlier in the afternoon. The two scores gave Navy eight tries and a 52-3 advantage with more than 20 minutes remaining. Mount St. Mary’s continued competing defensively but struggled to contain the Midshipmen’s combination of physical forward play and attacking support.
Jude Ballinger added Navy’s ninth try at 66:30, pushing the score to 57-3. Gray completed the Midshipmen’s offensive production at 70:50 with his second try, extending the advantage to 62-3. The Mountaineers scored their only try at 73:40 and converted the ensuing kick to establish the final 62-10 margin. Navy’s second-half performance reinforced its ability to maintain offensive pressure throughout an entire match, even after establishing a substantial early lead.
Gray and Scott Lead Balanced Scoring Attack
Gray and Scott provided Navy’s leading try-scoring performances, combining for four of the team’s 10 tries and 20 points. Gray opened the scoring and added the Midshipmen’s final try, while Scott delivered an important individual milestone with his first two collegiate tries. Their contributions highlighted the ability of Navy’s attacking players to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the contest. The Midshipmen also benefited from six other players who reached the try zone, making it difficult for Mount St. Mary’s to focus its defensive attention on any single offensive threat.
Williams delivered another efficient performance as Navy’s primary kicker, finishing with 12 points on six conversions. The senior successfully converted all five first-half tries before adding his final conversion following Buono’s second-half score. His accuracy helped Navy maximize its scoring opportunities and build an overwhelming advantage before the final stages of the match. Williams entered the contest as the team’s leading scorer with 42 points and continued demonstrating his importance to the Midshipmen’s offensive success.
Donohue, Coward, Cornelius, Buono, Gayron and Ballinger each contributed one try to complete Navy’s scoring. The eight different try scorers demonstrated the depth and versatility that have allowed the Midshipmen to remain undefeated through seven matches. Navy has consistently received contributions from multiple positions, allowing the coaching staff to rotate personnel without sacrificing offensive production. That balance should remain valuable as the schedule becomes increasingly difficult against nationally ranked opponents.
Navy Defense Limits Mount St. Mary’s Opportunities
Although Navy’s 62-point offensive performance dominated the headlines, the Midshipmen also delivered another strong defensive effort. Mount St. Mary’s managed only a first-half penalty kick and a late converted try, finishing with 10 points despite playing at home. Navy’s forwards established physical control during extended portions of the contest, limiting the Mountaineers’ ability to generate consistent attacking opportunities. The defensive performance continued a season-long trend of preventing opponents from sustaining scoring pressure.
The Midshipmen entered Saturday’s contest having allowed just four tries through their first six matches. Navy had already demonstrated its defensive capabilities against nationally ranked opponents, including a 26-14 victory over Army and a 27-10 road win against Life University. Those performances showed that the Midshipmen could win difficult contests through disciplined defense rather than relying exclusively on offensive production. Against Mount St. Mary’s, Navy combined both strengths to deliver one of its most complete results of the season.
The Mountaineers entered the contest with a 1-3 record and were seeking an upset against the nation’s top-ranked program. Their lone previous victory came against Southern Virginia, when they rallied from a 14-point deficit during the final 15 minutes to secure a 43-37 win. Navy prevented a similar comeback by maintaining its defensive structure and continuing to score throughout the second half. The result dropped Mount St. Mary’s to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in Rugby East competition.
Navy Remains Unbeaten and Strengthens Rugby East Position
The victory improved Navy’s overall record to 7-0 and extended its undefeated Rugby East campaign to five consecutive conference victories. The Midshipmen entered the weekend having won 10 straight conference matches dating back to the previous season, and Saturday’s result extended that streak to 11. Navy has also established itself as one of the nation’s most productive offensive programs, regularly scoring multiple tries through different attacking combinations. The team’s continued success has strengthened its position as a leading contender for another Rugby East championship.
Navy entered the season seeking its fifth consecutive Rugby East title, an achievement that would further establish the program’s conference dominance. Before Saturday’s contest, the Midshipmen had already defeated several highly ranked opponents, including No. 3 Army, No. 5 Life and No. 8 Mary Washington. Their 62-10 victory over No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s added another ranked win to an increasingly impressive résumé. The Midshipmen have demonstrated that they can succeed against opponents with different playing styles and levels of defensive pressure.
The victory also continued Navy’s unbeaten history against Mount St. Mary’s. The Midshipmen entered Saturday’s matchup with six consecutive victories over the Mountaineers, including a 52-8 win during the previous spring season. Navy’s latest result extended its all-time advantage in the series to 7-0. The consistency of those performances reflects the program’s continued strength against regional opponents and its ability to maintain a high competitive standard.
Gavin Hickie Praises Navy’s Complete Team Performance
Navy director of rugby Gavin Hickie viewed Saturday’s matchup as an opportunity to evaluate the team’s standards and depth against another nationally ranked opponent. The Midshipmen utilized different personnel combinations while maintaining their aggressive offensive approach throughout the contest. Eight players scored tries, and the team continued generating opportunities even after building a commanding halftime lead. The performance provided another example of Navy’s ability to receive meaningful contributions from across its roster.
Hickie emphasized the importance of maintaining high expectations throughout the program, particularly as Navy prepares for increasingly challenging competition. The coaching staff has consistently stressed discipline, physicality and offensive execution during the Midshipmen’s undefeated start. Saturday’s result demonstrated the team’s ability to apply those principles while incorporating different players into important roles. The Midshipmen will need that same level of execution as they continue pursuing conference and national championship goals.
Navy’s success has also reflected the development of players capable of making an impact when given additional opportunities. Scott’s first two collegiate tries represented an important individual accomplishment, while Buono continued building momentum after his breakthrough performance against Life. The contributions from Coward, Donohue, Cornelius, Gayron and Ballinger further demonstrated the team’s offensive versatility. Developing that depth could prove especially valuable during the demanding final weeks of the fall schedule.
No. 7 Saint Mary’s Awaits in Major Ranked Matchup
The Midshipmen will return to Annapolis on Saturday, October 24, for a nationally significant matchup against No. 7 Saint Mary’s at the Prusmack Rugby Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. as Navy looks to extend its undefeated season and secure another victory against a top-10 opponent. The contest will provide a different challenge than Saturday’s lopsided result against Mount St. Mary’s. Saint Mary’s has established itself as a strong collegiate rugby program, making the matchup an important opportunity for Navy to demonstrate its national championship potential.
Navy’s upcoming schedule also includes a conference matchup against No. 9 Penn State, creating additional opportunities to strengthen its standing against nationally ranked competition. The Midshipmen have already defeated four ranked opponents this season and will look to maintain their momentum through the remainder of the fall. Their combination of offensive depth and disciplined defense has provided a strong foundation for continued success. However, the coaching staff will need to ensure the team maintains its focus against increasingly competitive opponents.
MSB Take
Navy’s 62-10 victory over Mount St. Mary’s demonstrated why the Midshipmen deserve serious consideration as one of the nation’s leading collegiate rugby programs. Scoring 10 tries against a nationally ranked opponent is an impressive accomplishment, particularly when eight different players contribute to the scoring. The performances of Gray and Scott highlighted Navy’s attacking talent, while Williams provided another reliable effort with his kicking accuracy. The Midshipmen controlled the match from the opening minutes and never allowed Mount St. Mary’s to establish a realistic opportunity to challenge for the victory.
The most encouraging aspect of Navy’s performance was its ability to maintain offensive production while utilizing different personnel combinations. Scott’s first two collegiate tries and Buono’s continued development demonstrated the depth that Hickie has established throughout the roster. Navy also maintained its defensive discipline for most of the contest, limiting the Mountaineers to just 10 points while scoring consistently in both halves. Those qualities should become increasingly valuable as the Midshipmen prepare for the final portion of their fall schedule.
The upcoming matchup against Saint Mary’s will provide another important test of Navy’s championship potential. The Midshipmen have already defeated several nationally ranked programs, but maintaining an undefeated record requires consistent preparation and execution every week. Navy cannot afford to become complacent following a 52-point victory, especially with another top-10 opponent approaching. If the Midshipmen continue combining physical defense with their balanced offensive attack, they have the personnel and momentum necessary to remain among the nation’s elite collegiate rugby teams.
