SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- In Notre Dame College's first game of the year, the Falcons met Adrian College, on Muller Field. The Sept. 16 contest saw the Falcons jump out to an early lead and lead wire-to-wire in a 22-3 victory.
After the opening whistle, NDC worked up the field, gaining territory which forced Adrian to concede a penalty.
Killian Burns stepped up for kicking duty and slotted the kick, giving Notre Dame a 3-0 lead. Adrian returned with aggression, creating a back-and-forth game. NDC conceded a penalty, giving Adrian the chance to send one at the posts. However, the kick was missed.
NDC rolled up the field with
Asher Hannon's out-of-hand kicking game and used a midfield scrum to get into their 22. Flying right out of the scrum, the Falcons used a set piece move for Remy Thomson to score in the corner.
Killian Burns converting the try to make it 10-0.
On the other side, Adrian created offensive pressure, keeping themselves in NDC's half, leading to three points off the tee (10-3).
Notre Dame returned fire with
Killian Burns beating three defenders to dot it down in the left corner. The kick was not converted, leaving the score, 15-3. The first half continued in a physical battle from the forwards, as NDC took the lead into halftime.
As the second half of the game kicked off, Notre Dame College's front row continued its stellar performance. With multiple scrum penalties going the way of Notre Dame, the forward pack was leading the charge into Adrian territory.
With 19 minutes remaining on the clock, Adrian College was knocking at the door with a line break from their center, aiming to get their first try of the game. However, despite all that was thrown at NDC's goal line defense, they did not break and kept AC from scoring.
A line out on the Adrian 10-meter line laid the foundation for the rolling maul that would eventually set up the swift handling forwards. Flanker
George Brown ran over the white hash in the far-right corner for his first try of the game and Notre Dame's third try. With a successful conversion kick from Burns, the Falcons' lead increased to 19 points, 22-3.
The remainder of the second half was a tug-of-war battle with emotions flaring up from both sides. Notre Dame was able to stay on the front foot for the last few minutes of this battle and when the final whistle blew, NDC was victorious over an determined and physical Adrian College.
Notre Dame will travel for its next two games, beginning with a trip to West Point to take on Army, on Sept. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
