December 9 - Notre Dame College claimed the Division I national title Saturday, defeating St. Bonaventure, 33-10, at SaberCat Stadium in Houston, TX. The win marks NDC's first DI championship, and the program's second-ever, the Falcons having won DI-AA in 2017.
Notre Dame College dominated the first half through a downpour. All American fullback Lachie MacDonald slotted two early penalties to establish a 6-0 lead, but missed a third shot at goal.
St. Bonaventure responded with the first try. Outside center Eddie Nelson sparked the move with a big line break, Noah Edwards passed the ball to flanker Matthew Conroy on the wing a few phases later, and he offloaded back inside to a streaking Will Hogan for the score.
The Falcons answered back through flanker Cameron Mills on a point blank pick-and-go, but an unforced error from the Bonnies made it possible. Their defense earned a timely turnover, holding up what would have been an NDC try and resulting in a goal-line dropout. The Bonnies punted it instead of drop-kicking it, giving NDC a free-kick five meters from pay dirt.
The gimme try put the Falcons up 16-5 going into the break, but the Bonnies opened the second half on the front foot, camping out in the attacking end for several minutes before conceding a ruck penalty that allowed NDC to clear its lines.
The Falcons extended the lead with an impressive team try at 60 minutes. Lock Fraser Leslie made a big, bumping run, MacDonald stepped a Bonnie defender, and reserve flanker Tadiwa Kainga bowled in for the score.
St. Bonaventure showed signs of a comeback with a try from Patrick Clink in the 68th minute, but NDC intercepted the first pass off the restart. The Bonnies scrambled in defense to slow down the Falcons, but Christian Gatica punched over a pick-and-go try, putting the game out of reach.
