Rockford holds the line against Loyola.

What a great way to start the 2026 Division I Prep Rugby Season.

The #2 Rockford Rams traveled to Warren’s Austin Dannis Park to face the Loyola Bulldogs in a clash between two East and West powerhouses that came down to the final whistle.

Loyola opened things as Fly-half Marcio Corbelli-Tavolari dotted the first try of the game, Logan Saad would add to the lead with a kick. Rockford responded almost immediately. Winger Wesley Schwandt, got on the board for the team’s first try of the season, followed by a conversion from Ryan Tomasko who would go 3/3 on kicks Wednesday evening. Rams kept the pressure on, forcing their way into the endzone for another try, this time by Tyler Hallenbeck to take them into halftime up 14-7.

To the second, Loyola shot out of a cannon and blew past defenders as Senior Mason Maczuga dots the ball between the post for Marcio Corbelli-Tavolari to convert the easy kick, tying the game at 14. Rockford did have a plan B. Isaiah Poe delivers the would be final try of the match. What happens next was a 20-minute defensive slugfest.

Rockford’s Isaiah Poe, blazing past Bulldog Defenders for the go-ahead try Photo taken by Sal Madonna

Staying relentless, Rams and Dawgs refused to give a single centimeter on the goal line. Within the final minute of the game Loyola’s centre-back made a break through for a potential game-changing try with a follow up game tying kick. But Rams Backer Will Cowin stepped up and held up the score and securing the win for Rockford.

Your final here from 9 and Mound

Rams 21-14 Bulldogs.

Will Cowin holds up the would-be Loyola try in the final seconds of the match. Photo taken by Sal Madonna

Scoring Summary

Loyola '10 - Corbelli-Tavolari

Saad, Conversion Kick

Rockford '18 - Schwandt

Tomasko, Conversion Kick

Rockford '22 - Hallenbeck

Tomasko, Conversion Kick

Loyola '37 - Maczuga

Corbelli-Tavolari, Conversion Kick

Rockford '49 - Poe

Tomasko, Conversion Kick