In the program's first collegiate rugby game, Adrian College out of Michigan defeated the University of Michigan on a balmy Friday night.

Adrian is a new varsity program in DII Men's College rugby in the Great Lakes Conference. Coached by Benny Mateialona, the young program met the Wolverines in basically a scrimmage preseason game. But it was a full-on contest, and Adrian, with many of their overseas players still waiting for visas, traveled to Ann Arbor with only 20 players.

"We needed guys to play for a full 80 minutes," said Mateialona. 

Adrian ran out to a 12-0 first-half lead with tries from Alexander Tautua'a and Michael Pakofe, both forwards and products of Menko Atherton (Calif.) and Kahuku HS (Hawaii). Sophomore Sam Williams, fullback, converted on try.

As the game wore on, Michigan started to put things together and scored two tries in the second half, both unconverted, to make it 12-10. Adrian was plagued somewhat with handling errors, with the heat making the ball sweaty and difficult to control. 

"The players such with it and the leadership group really took control of how we wanted to play, even under pressure," said Mateialona. Captain Nicholas Andiarena was crucial in this aspect. That leadership helped Adrian hold on to win 12-10.

The victory is huge for the program. The winning of the first game of the program's history is already making news around the college, and add to that the fact that no Adrian sports team has ever beaten Michigan before. While it's easy to get carried away with a preseason game, this game remains evidence that, while young, Adrian has some rugby chops. It wasn't perfect, but it was a good start.