College Rugby got its kick off this past weekend with Marian University taking on the University of Kentucky in a preseason scrimmage.

While the final score was 52-7 for Kentucky, that scoreline is a little misleading.

Marian pressured the Wildcats in the first half and the teams changed ends with Kentucky's lead only 14-7. Marian freshman Eric Reed scored the Knights' try with Tommaso Lorenzetti, also a freshman, converting.

In the second half, Kentucky ran in 38 unanswered points.

"The first half was a little sloppy," said Kentucky Head Coach Gary Anderson. "The guys were pressing and trying to make the extra pass. In the second half they settled down and ran the pattern."

But it was an encouraging clash for Marian, as they were not expected to win and, with so many freshmen and sophomores, that first half gave them something to build on.

Marian was led by sophomore JD Farrell, who was his team's top play, while UK sophomore flanker  Wyatt Kelly had a huge game on both attack and defense.

To emphasize what Marian expected to accomplish in the future, the B-side game was a close one, 21-19 to Kentucky. Daniel Riecke scored two tries and Aaron McKinley, a converted wrestler, scored a try in his first rugby game.