On Saturday, September 24, the Falcons hit the road for their first road trip to play Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The varsity program was nervous but well-prepared to face the D1A varsity powerhouse.
 
The Falcons started off the match well as they played their exit strategy almost perfectly resulting in turnover ball by Davenport back in their own end which allowed Junior Zack Forro to strike first by dotting the ball down directly underneath the posts, which set up a successful conversion by Senior Logan Weinstock.
 
The rest of the first half was a constant change of pace as both teams exchanged a few lead changes. At the end of the half, after tremendous defensive effort by both programs, the match was tied at 14; Forro put in both tries and Weinstock put through both conversions for the Falcons.
 
The second half only added a little more suspense to an already exciting match between these two top-tier teams. Within the first 5 minutes of the half, after a sloppy turnover ball out of a Panther scrum, the Falcons were first to strike with a Cory Graham try right under the posts.
 
The Panthers struck back shortly after with a penalty kick conversion inside the Falcons' 22, the score was now 21-17 Falcons. The next several minutes of play was a gut-wrenching span of time as the Falcons were edging the try zone and so were the Panthers. However, it was the Panthers who were next to strike providing the fourth lead change of the afternoon.
 
With 10 minutes to spare, the Panthers had a 24-21 lead with strong yet elusive Falcon reserves coming on. The fresh legs gave the Falcons the advantage as they maintained not only ball possession, but field possession for the remainder of the match. With time winding down the Falcons remained poised and aggressive as they entered the final scrum of the match, possession in the Panthers hands.
 
The Panthers scrum was no match to the technical, skilled, and powerful Falcon scrum as the Falcons pushed the Panthers backwards five meters allowing hooker John Santiago to steal the ball. The ball was soon gathered up by Freshman Andrew Guerra from the tail of the scrum allowing him fifteen meters of open field with only a few defenders in his way. The defenders stood no contest for the 6 foot 205-pound freshman who dotted down the sixth and final lead-change.
 
Notre Dame College Falcons: 26
Davenport University Panthers: 24
 
The Falcons head into the next few weeks having a friendly match against the Cleveland Crusaders (October 8 @ 11:30am) followed by a BYE week.
 
Interested in catching a match? Follow us on Twitter @NDCFalconRugby, Facebook @ Notre Dame College Men's Rugby, and Instagram @ndcrugby.