SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College football has released its 2022 schedule, which is highlighted by the season opener against Ashland University and the Homecoming game against the University of Charleston. Before looking forward to the fall, NDC ended spring practice with a Blue vs. White Spring Game, last Saturday.

Although the day began with snow falling, the players took the field ready for competition. For the first time since spring 2019, the team experienced a normal spring practice.

"I've never had a Spring Game, but it was a good atmosphere and we love to see the fans out here," defensive back/return specialist Bryce Sheppert said. "It's football, it doesn't matter what the weather is. It felt good to hit somebody and have live [competition] for a little bit."

"I thought our Spring Game went well. It accumulated all of the success that we had this spring," head coach Garrett Mack mentioned. "The growth and development of the younger players, seeing guys step into leadership roles, it was good."

After the game, offensive linemen Adam Riegler and Nick Beans, linebacker Nathan Moore, defensive lineman Jack Kosko, quarterback Chris Brimm and Sheppert and were named Captains for the upcoming season.

"It felt really good getting all the guys back together. Just feeling how special this team is about to be," Riegler exclaimed.

"We wanted to leave the field healthy. Play fast, play physical, be assignment and alignment sound on what we do offensively, defensively and special teams," Mack said.

The Falcons ended the fall 2021 season as the No. 9 ranked program in NCAA Division II according to the American Football Coaches Association. This was the third consecutive season that the Falcons were ranked in the top 10 in the final AFCA poll. NDC was No. 12 in the D2Football.com top 25 poll.

Notre Dame won an NCAA Playoff game for the third consecutive season, defeating No. 19 Slippery Rock University, 33-25, on Nov. 20. Overall, NDC put together a record of 11-2 (9-1 MEC) and won their fourth consecutive Mountain East Conference Championship. The NDC defense ended the season first in the nation with 21 interceptions and 36 total takeaways.

To begin the 2022 season, the Falcons will travel to Ashland University, on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. The home-and-home series began last season when Ashland came to South Euclid, and after an incredible battle, Notre Dame came away with a 42-35 overtime victory.

"Obviously, to play Ashland, a big in-state rivalry, we're excited," Mack explained. "It's going to be a great atmosphere on a Thursday night. It will be a great challenge before getting into conference play."

The Falcons will jump into MEC play with the home opener against Wheeling University, on Sept. 10, followed by another home game against West Liberty, on Sept. 17. In the fall of 2021, Notre Dame combined to score 82 points on their trips to Wheeling and West Liberty in back-to-back weeks, while the NDC defense held those teams to 25 combined points. Against WLU, the offense broke a program record with 687 yards of total offense.

Following a trip to Institute, W.Va. to play West Virginia State University, on Sept. 24, the Falcons come back home for the Homecoming game against Charleston, on Oct. 1, at 12 p.m. Last season, Notre Dame's only conference loss came against UC, on the road.

"When you win four straight conference championships, you know you are going to get everybody's best, week in and week out. Our guys are ready for that."

The Falcons then go on the road back-to-back weeks against Frostburg State University and West Virginia Wesleyan College, on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, respectively. Notre Dame went up against Frostburg State last fall when the Bobcats were ranked No. 23 in the country and NDC grabbed a 23-21 victory, in a game highlighted by an incredible one-handed catch on the sideline by Devanaire Conliffe.

NDC finishes out the home portion of the schedule with a matchup against Glenville State University, on Oct. 22, and a celebration of Senior Day when UNC Pembroke comes to town, on Nov. 5. Both games are scheduled to begin at noon on Mueller Field.

The final two road games of the season with be Fairmont State University, on Oct. 29, and Alderson Broaddus University, on Nov. 12. The NDC Falcons defeated AB last fall to secure the MEC Championship. They also broke a program record and a conference record by scoring 72 points in the contest.