KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The seventh-ranked Kutztown University men's rugby team recorded a gritty, but convincing 83-7 victory over 18th-ranked St. Bonaventure, Saturday, on the North Campus Rugby Pitch to lock up its first USA Rugby Division 1A East Conference championship.

The Golden Bears improved to 6-1 overall this fall and a perfect 5-0 in D1A East Conference play with the victory over the Bonnies (1-5, 1-3 D1A East).

Kutztown trailed 7-5 in the 26th minute, before a try from Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) put the Maroon and Gold ahead for good. Aaron Gray (Washington, D.C./Perry Street Prep) finished with three tries, as did D'Montae Noble (Falls Church, Va./George Mason), the duo combining for six of KU's 13 trips across the line on the day.

"We are elated to not only win the conference but to accumulate 25 [standings] points and go unblemished in the Rugby East Conference," Kutztown Head Coach Dr. Gregg A. Jones told Goff Rugby Report. "This is a young side that suffered two setbacks last year to Army and Penn State by a combined total of seven points. Our players just felt that if they were going to acquire regional and national recognition, they were going to have to go forth and earn it."

Read a full recap from Alex Goff of Goff Rugby Report by clicking here.

Kutztown concludes its fall 15s slate with a game against D1A Independent University of Notre Dame next Sunday, Nov. 3, at noon, in South Bend, Indiana.