WAYNE, Neb. – Southern Nazarene Men's Rugby opened their 2025-2026 season in exciting fashion with a 24-3 road victory over defending NCR Division III national champion Wayne State College on Friday afternoon. The Wildcats, making the step up into CRAA D1AA competition this season, posed a tough challenge early, but the Crimson Storm took control in the second half to seal the statement win.

The Storm utilized six debutants in the lineup, and the first half showed the hallmarks of a season opener — fast-paced, physical, and at times filled with errors. Wayne State struck first with a penalty kick from their scrum half to take a 3-0 lead into halftime, but the SNU defense had already begun to show some fight, forcing mistakes and absorbing the Wildcats' pressure.

The Storm came out of the break composed and efficient, flipping the script with their defense. Graduate transfer Logan McDaniel opened the scoring with the Storm's first try of the season, chasing down a bouncing kick from Hlanga Mabele before Thomas Wilson added the conversion to give SNU the lead. Minutes later, prop Angus Rich powered across the line following a pinpoint cross-kick from Wilson that was corralled by Creed Hicken, stretching the lead further.

As Wayne State's discipline slipped, the Storm bench swung the momentum in their favor. Debutant center Connor Malau'ulu and Purcell native Tavian Engert provided a physical spark, and soon senior Luis Camacho crashed over for SNU's third try after a bruising carry from winger James Robertson. Wilson again converted to make it 19-3.

With the Wildcats down two men following yellow cards, the Crimson Storm capped the afternoon with afinal try, from replacement scrum half Jacob Robertson, who darted through a gap on the blindside of a ruck for the fourth try of the day.

The 24-3 result marked a commanding start for the Crimson Storm, who leave Wayne with an early-season road victory.