GCU PREVIEW: LOPES AND LOVED ONES COME TO TUCSON
Arizona Second & Third XV vs GCU
Friday October 13
Rincon Vista Sports Complex
2300 E 15th Street
6:00 PM
Cody Hunt captains the side to bring some veteran leadership to a mostly youthful roster.
October 12- Arizona's Second and Third sides return to action after a short work week as they welcome Grand Canyon University along with many of their families to Tucson in the return matches for the two game set. Cody Hunt has been named captain for the side that will look to close out the preseason 3-0, while Ingo Van Der Heiden earns the start and the captaincy in his final match as a Wildcat for the Third XV. Patrick Coco leads both groups as the Wildcats look to build on last Saturday when they took both matches in Phoenix but the Lopes will be looking to bounce back. Friday also commences 2017 Family Weekend on the campus, with the match serving as an official event on the calendar for the festivities.
In the rest of the front row, Chaz Huntsman slides up to Second XV as he looks to continue a strong preseason, and last week's Wildcat of the Week Chris McBride starts at Hooker next to Hunt. On the Third XV, Bobby McLalan and Reed Hirshman start again to give the Wildcats some continuity across both front rows. At Lock, impressive Freshman Steven Benson starts his third straight match while Zach Knobbe-Hewitt joins him to give the Wildcats a solid duo in the second row. Austin Strehlow returns from injury this week to earn the nod at Lock next to Ryan Thompson on the Third XV. In the back rows, Billy Esposito and Doug Neary start again with Riley Kerr moving up after a strong performance last weekend. Another Freshman who impressed last week, Anders Bergfalk slides in to a starting spot at Number Eight next to fellow first year Wildcats Alex Rayton and Dan Hagan. "Looking forward to the growth from last week. We did some things in set piece we can build on, and have installed some items in attack that I want to see the guys put to good use tomorrow" said Head Coach Sean Duffy.
In the backline, an explosive group takes the field in game one, with Jack Bradfield earning the start at Flyhalf and pairing with Koto Fujimura. Tanner Davison and Brody Wainwright start again for the Wildcats with the Tucson local Wainwright looking to build on a strong game last week. In game one, an unchanged center group of Lucas Bartzis and Ricky Lindsay starts while a new pairing of Tristan Wallace and Jaime Cuesta earn the nod in game two. On the outside, Adam Wilson and Jayme Thomas man the post at Fullback, while Kristian Sanchez and Kyle Fulton move up as a pair to start on the Wings after strong games last week in Phoenix. Nick Taylor and Carson Benya start on the edge in game two hoping to help the Wildcats move to 4-0 on the Third XV. "A great group to work with, and I have been so impressed with guys like Tanner Davison and Kyle Fulton who continue to just get better and better each week" said Duffy.
Both Second and Third XV sides will look to build on last weekend with the Lopes providing a physical opponent for the Wildcats. "Thankful to have another quality D1A side in the state and thankful to the university for adding us as a Family Weekend event. We hope it will be a great weekend as both teams look to prep for January" said Duffy.
Second XV Lineup (click for bio)
7- Riley Kerr
8- Doug Neary
10- Jack Bradfield
11- Krisitan Sanchez
13- Ricky Lindsay
14- Kyle Fulton
15- Adam Wilson
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16- Bobby McLalan
17- Reed Hirshman
18- Hector Ramirez
19- Anders Bergfalk
20- Alex Rayton
21- Tanner Davison
22- Brody Wainwright
23- Jayme Thomas
Third XV Lineup
1- Ingo Van Der Heiden (C)
6- Daniel Hagan
7- Alex Rayton
10- Brody Wainwright
11- Nick Taylor
12- Tristan Wallace
13- Jaime Cuesta
14- Carson Benya
15- Jayme Thomas