SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Many new names and new faces trotted out onto Mueller Field for Notre Dame College on a warm September afternoon to start the 2023 season. But, the results remained the same. The Falcons pulled ahead of Ohio Dominican University, midway through the second quarter, and never looked back in a 23-21 victory.
 
NDC has now won five of their last six season openers and have put together a streak of 17 consecutive wins at home.
 
"Our guys come to Notre Dame for a reason and that's to play with these expectations," head coach Garrett Mack said. "Defensively, we brought back two starters from last year's playoff team and we played pretty well. Offensively, same thing, you graduated a quarterback who was here for six years and some offensive linemen. We played three running backs, eight receivers and nine defensive linemen. I'm proud of these guys."
 
Ohio Dominican received the ball to start the game, but the Falcons' defense was ready to go and the Panthers quickly found themselves in a fourth and short situation. On the punt attempt, a high snap gave punter Logan Ortt no other option than to run for the first down. Sophomore Nathan Rosario-Santos, who led Notre Dame with 10 tackles, stopped him and gave the Falcons' offense the ball at the ODU 25-yard line.
 
Junior quarterback Isaiah Murphy immediately threw a strike to junior James Faulkner for a first down. However, the drive would stall out and senior Cameron Shirkey made the first of his three field goals on the day.
 
The second drive of the game was much more successful for Ohio Dominican than the first. In what would be the longest drive of the game, ODU went 90 yards in nine plays and found the endzone. Quarterback Jake Byrd completed three passes of 11 yards, or more, and Travis Whittaker found space for a 23-yard scamper for six points. The Panthers led 7-3, and would keep that lead until the middle of the second quarter.
 
ODU got the ball back, following a punt, but NDC's junior Jacalyn Morrison positioned himself next to a receiver on a pass that floated up in the air and he brought down the interception on the second play of that drive.
 
The NDC defense continued to be put to the test when Ohio Dominican went for it on fourth and one to start the second quarter. The Panthers were stuffed at the line of scrimmage and the Falcons took over.

"We told these guys early in the week that the game would be won on the first level," Mack said. "If we could go out and dominate on the defensive line, it would be a great day. On the back half, when we needed a big play, Jacalyn Morrison had a big interception."
 
"On the defensive line, our main thing is that we trust each other," redshirt-freshman Justin Ested said. "If I'm not making a play, I know someone behind is. We all have good energy, good chemistry, we communicate. We all keep a level head."
 
NDC then put together one of its most impressive drives of the game. Murphy completed three passes to three different receivers, including a 32-yard pickup by redshirt-sophomore Michael Solomon. After marching 54 yards down the field, Shirkey was back into the game and put a 27-yard field goal attempt through the uprights. The Falcons trailed by one, 7-6, with under 10 minutes to go before halftime.
 
After ODU could not move the ball, the NDC offense regained possession with momentum building. On 3rd and 11, Murphy sent a perfectly placed pass into the arms of senior Tyshawn Lighty down the middle of the field for a 53-yard touchdown.
 
Notre Dame would score on three consecutive drives when Shirkey was successful from 41 yards away and Notre Dame took a 16-7 advantage into the half.
 
The halftime break cooled down both offenses, as the first five drives of the third stanza resulted in a punt. ODU cut the deficit to two points when Jonzell Norrils found a hole up the middle and ran 70 yards to paydirt on the first play following an NDC punt.
 
The Panthers got the ball back, following another punt. The momentum was shifting after Byrd found Ty Wiley on a 39-yard pass play to get ODU to Notre Dame's 30-yard line. Rosario-Santos made his presence known again when he forced a fumble out of Norrils' hands and NDC recovered.
 
With 13:38 to go in the contest, leading by two points, Notre Dame needed to create some separation. The response was a six-play, 70-yard drive. Sharp started it with a 14-yard run and ended it with a 21-yard dash to the endzone. During the drive, Solomon also caught a 23-yard pass. Notre Dame led, 23-14, with 10:42 on the clock.

"I feel like any of these guys [in the running back room] can start anywhere at the DII level," Sharp said. "We have a good balance. I had to make up for it, because I fumbled a kickoff, but coach is always talking about next play, next play. The offensive line, they led the way."
 
Even after Byrd went down with an injury, backup QB Drew Gallehue made sure the Panthers did not go away quietly. He led a 63-yard drive, including five completed passes and another touchdown to make the score 23-21 in favor of NDC.
 
The Falcons would do enough to hold onto the victory over the final five minutes.
 
To go along with his career-high ten tackles, Rosario-Santos added 1.5 tackles for loss. Junior Isaiah Stephens was second on the team with eight tackles, and posted a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Junior Lavell Gibson (2) and Ested (1) had the three sacks for NDC.
 
Offensively, NDC totaled 324 yards. Murphy went 15-for-27 for 225 passing yards. Solomon caught two passes and had a team-high 55 yards receiving. Eight players caught at least one pass.
 
Notre Dame will stay home next week to battle West Virginia Wesleyan College, on Sept. 9, at 12 p.m.