RIO DE JANEIRO -- Nothing could stifle Dan Paynes spirits Tuesday, not even the U.S. teams heartbreaking 17-14 loss in rugby sevens when Argentina scored after the siren.The CEO of USA Rugby expects a big boost in the sports popularity in the U.S. with the mens gutsy performance coming on the heels of a surprisingly strong showing by the womens squad.The Olympics is what we understand in the United States, more than anything, Payne said. Its just a pleasure for these guys to be able to play the game that they love in front of a strong crowd.And really for us its about competing here, but its also about that 8- to 9- to 10-year-old boy and girl at home watching it. We want them to aspire to be future rugby Olympians and share that goal, and that really helps the game grow and fills the stands.Player Nate Ebner, who learned the game from his late father, who played college rugby, has similar hopes for the sport.I hope it does worlds for rugby. I hope it changes the game, Ebner said after the Americans followed the loss in the opener with a 26-0 shutout of host Brazil. We can kind of be trailblazers for something great in the United States and obviously thats our hopes and dreams for this sport.I love this sport. I want to see it have tremendous success, but thats ultimately up to the people back in the United States and how they embrace the game and how many people get involved, added Ebner, whose fulltime job is as a safety for the New England Patriots.Rugby sevens is a fast-paced version of the time-honored sport that was last played at the Olympics in 1924. The Americans won the gold in that 15-a-side tournament back when boxing and horse racing were the big pastimes, baseball was blossoming and the NFL wasnt even around.Rugby sevens features two seven-minute halves divided by a two-minute halftime plus any stoppage time kept by the referee. The games are over in 20 minutes tops.One thing thats helping grow the sport in the U.S. are fears of head injuries that are driving plenty of of parents to steer their kids away from football. Some youths are taking up rugby, where head-to-head hits are rare and the cardiovascular and aerobic benefits are more like soccers.What I can say safely is that growth is taking off exponentially, especially in that age group. So, whatever the reasons are, I like to say that theres multiple contributing factors, Payne said. But even just watching that (first slate of games) and being around that energy is probably the primary driving factor.But contrary to popular belief, its a very safe game, Payne added.There was only one player in the 24 womens matches who was taken off the pitch for concussion protocol and she returned in the second half.So, the rules are around keeping it safe. And when you dont have the helmet and you dont have the pads, you have to do things very technically, and thats in how you carry the ball and in how you tackle, Payne said.In youth rugby in the U.S. kids 5 to 12 play with flags just like flag football, and when contact starts with the teenagers, the first season is dedicated to learning body control, safety and proper tackling technique where the head is protected and players hit with a shoulder as they wrap up, he said.Youre seeing it in football where theyve started to do a lot of the rugby tackling in a lot of the NFL camps and colleges, Payne said. So, its a very safe game and I think people will see it and watch and theres the contact. Especially in America, we love the physical contact, theres that. But its in a very safe and controlled way.Rugby can be played by all sorts, the big, the tall, the squat, the fast, the slow.The greatest thing about the game? Payne said. Whatever position you are, you have a chance to carry the ball, which is what we love.Americans that know the most obscure of NFL rules, however, have a difficult time with rugbys rules.So, what does Payne tell his confused compatriots?Youre not alone, he said with a chuckle. Its like anything: you have to do some research on it but you also just have to sit next to somebody that knows the game, Payne said. Its pretty quick to pick up, but youre right, it looks like a little bit of chaos but its a controlled chaos. Theres a rhyme to the reason.Just then, the Brazilians made a good play on the pitch against powerhouse Fiji and the stadium shuddered.That was amazing, Payne said. There was just goosebumps on my arms, just hearing that crowd and the energy.He wants to have that feeling back home, too.---AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org---Follow AP Sports Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapletonCheap Fake NMD . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Best Fake NMD Human Race . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-adidas-nmd-black-china.html . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Cheap NMD For Sale . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Adidas NMD R1 Womens Raw Pink . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker.OFFENSE Derrius Guice, RB, LSURushed for a school-record 285 yards to go along with 4 TDs in LSUs 54-39 win over Texas A&M.Became just the 2nd player in SEC history to have two 250-yard rushing games in the same season joining Moe Williams of Kentucky as the only two players in league history to accomplish the feat.Guice rushed for 252 yards in win over Arkansas two weeks ago ... Averaged 7.7 yards on 37 carries against the Aggies.The 37 carries rank No. 4 in school history ... His 285 yards vs. Texas A&M bettered Leonard Fournettes previous record of 284 set vs. Ole Miss earlier this year.Its also the 10th-highest total in SEC history and the most in the league since 2013.Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi StateFitzgerald accounted for 367 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in leading Mississippi State to its largest Egg Bowl victory since 1916.Fitzgerald rushed for an MSU single-game school record 258 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns, breaking Anthony Dixons previous mark of 252 in 2009.He averaged a school-record 18.4 yards per carry, which is the second-best mark by a player in SEC history (min. 10 carries - LSUs Harvey Williams 19.6 vs. Rice ion 1987). The 18.4 yards per carry was the highest by an SEC player in a conference game in league history (min. 10 carries).The 258 rushing yards was the most by an FBS quarterback since Navys Keenan Reynolds rushed for 277 on Nov. 14, 2014. Fitzgerald also threw for three touchdowns. His 1,243 rushing yards this season is the third most by a QB in SEC history, trailing only Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel. Fitzgerald also broke Dak Prescotts old mark of rushing yards by a QB in a season, becoming the first QB in MSU history to go over 1,000.DEFENSE Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky?Had two pass interceptions of Heisman Trophy candidate Lamar Jackson while making six tackles and one-half quarterback sack in Kentuckys 41-38 upset at No. 11 Louisville ? His interception in the third quarter set up a Kentucky touchdown driveHis interception on the final play of the game sealed the win for the WildcatsCombined with Josh Allen for an eight-yard quarterback sackEdwards two interceptions tied the record for most pickoffs in a Governors Cup game, also tied the record for most Governors Cup interceptions in a careerThe Kentucky defense held Louisville - the nations leader in scoring offense - to eight points below its season averageIt is Kentuckys first win over a ranked opponent on the road since 2002 and the highest-ranked opponent UK has defeated on the road since 1977.Zach Cunningham, LB, VanderbiltCunningham continued his remarkable defensive campaign by registering 10 total tackles, including nine unassisted stops, along with a fumble recovery and forced fumble, in Vanderbilts 45-34 upset win over Tennessee.Cunningham sparked a Commodore defense that held UTs vaunted offense to juust three points in the second half.ddddddddddddCunninghams forced fumble of UT QB Josh Dodds, which came on the final play of the third quarter, created the possession that led to Vanderbilts game-deciding touchdown.Cunningham, a Butkus Award finalist, leads all SEC players with 119 total tackles and four fumble recoveries, and is tied for second with 16.5 tackles for loss.SPECIAL TEAMS Austin MacGinnis, K, KentuckySplit the uprights with a game-winning 47-yard field goal with only 12 seconds remaining in Kentuckys 41-38 upset at No. 11 LouisvilleMade every kick during the game, also a 35-yard field goal and all five extra pointsTotaled 11 points on the day, moving into second place on the Kentucky career scoring list with 253 pointsBroke a Governors Cup record with six field goals made during his careerIt is his second game-winning field goal of the season, also a 51-yarder as time expired in the 40-38 win over Mississippi StateIt is Kentuckys first win over a ranked opponent on the road since 2002 and the highest-ranked opponent UK has defeated on the road since 1977.FRESHMAN Leo Lewis, LB, Mississippi StateLewis gathered six tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in MSUs largest Egg Bowl victory since 1916.The 1.5 tackles for loss was his most in a league game this season.The Bulldog defense shutout Ole Miss in the second half in Oxford.Lewis extended his season tackle total to 72, the most of any freshman in the SEC (only freshman in the SECs top 50 overall in tackles).OFFENSIVE LINE Cam Robinson, OL, AlabamaThe junior left tackle cleared a path for 203 rushing yards in the Tides 30-12 win over No. 13 Auburn and 501 total yards.Posted a grade of 89 percent and did not allow a quarterback hurry or a sack.Recorded a team-high five knockdown blocks.Helped provided time for QB Jalen Hurts to throw for 286 yards (298 as a team) and two touchdowns while completing 75.0 percent of his passes and rushing for 37 yards and a touchdown.Opened holes for 90 yards on the ground for Bo Scarbrough and 47 for Damien Harris.DEFENSIVE LINE Marcell Frazier, DE, MissouriProvided numerous impact plays as he helped key Mizzous 28-24 upset win over Arkansas to close out the 2016 season.Finished the game with 4 tackles, and they all came behind the line of scrimmage, including 4 TFLs (accounting for 42 yards in losses).Three of those were QB sacks (35 yards), including one on Arkansas final offensive play, with the Razorbacks facing 4th down on Mizzous 20-yardline in the final minute. His sack ended the Arkansas threat, and gave Mizzou the ball back to kill the clock and close out the win.Was credited with a 4th quarter QB pressure, and earlier in the game drew a holding call due the pressure he got on the play. ' ' '