Grand Rapids, MI — For the AQ men's rugby team, the fall of 2025 has already featured its share of highs and lows. The Saints opened the season with an impressive victory over Michigan, but the win came at a cost as Thomas Allsopp was lost for the season due to injury. Last week, AQ was humbled by Davenport, falling 61–12 but gaining valuable experience for its first-year players. Head coach Lance Hohaia continues to stress consistency and effort as the group works to establish its identity. On Saturday, the Saints bounced back in emphatic fashion, rolling past Grand Valley State, 50–3.

Aquinas 50, Grand Valley State 3
AQ wasted no time asserting themselves. Nick Hernandez opened the scoring in the ninth minute, crashing over from close range for an early lead. Darryl Lunon doubled the tally in similar fashion after sustained pressure on the Lakers' goal line. The Saints then shifted gears as Liam Inman produced a clever kick-and-chase break that set up George Kilsby, who dotted down and converted his own try. Not long after, JaVani Overstreet muscled across from short range, and the forwards continued to dominate the contact area. The highlight of the half came from Dom Zavala, who sliced through retreating defenders and raced 50 meters for a brilliant solo try, pushing AQ's lead to 29–0 at halftime.

Grand Valley found more defensive resolve after the break, but the Saints' attack soon broke through again. Gavin Thompson finished off a sweeping backline move in the 57th minute, with Jack O'Malley adding the extras. Kilsby struck again shortly after, showing great anticipation on a quick tap play orchestrated by Marcel Denysschen, with O'Malley once again converting. The scoring was capped in the 75th minute by Noah Davis, who powered over from the base of a ruck, before Zavala knocked through the conversion. The Lakers avoided a shutout with a late penalty goal in the 78th minute, but the Saints had long since put the result beyond doubt.

Inside the Numbers

• 50 – AQ's highest point total of the season.
• 2 – Tries scored by George Kilsby, the first multi-try performance of the year.
• 29 – First-half points scored by the Saints before allowing GVSU on the board.
• 6 – Different Saints who crossed the try line in the win.

Coaches' Comments
After the game, head coach Lance Hohaia spoke about his team and on their performance:
"Although the scoreboard reflected a high-scoring game, we still need to tighten up in certain areas. We made some simple errors and lacked composure in attack, pushing too many passes and overplaying at times. As we approach the business end of the season, we need to get back to doing the basics well and make better decisions with the ball in hand. The highlight of the day was the collective defensive effort, a big improvement from last week and an encouraging sign. The goal is continued growth as a group and raising our standard every time we step on the field."

Up Next
The Saints get an unscheduled weekend off as next Saturday's game has been cancelled. AQ will head to Fort Dodge, Iowa, to face Iowa Central on Saturday, October 11, with the start time still to be determined. AQ fans can follow along with live stats, scores, and recaps at AQSaints.com. For those who missed it, the full game against GVSU can be rewatched on AQSaints.com/Watch.