NDC opens with night kickoff at Ashland

Garrett Mack might be a first-year coach, but he carries himself with the confidence of knowing he has a preseason Top 10 team with a boatload of talent.

That talent, though, must go on the road for its season opener in a hostile environment Sept. 1 at in-state opponent Ashland. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

It’s the third meeting between the two programs. In 2009, the first year of NDC

football, the Falcons were a club team and lost to Ashland, 75-0. A season ago, the teams opened in South Euclid with NDC getting a 4235 win in overtime.

There’s always the unknown with the start of a new season, and Mack has made it a point to drive his players each day during preseason camp because of that unknown.

“We haven’t gotten complacent,” said Mack. “We’ve had a really good camp. Guys have pushed, guys have competed. Mental toughness and physical toughness have really been challenged during this camp. Guys are healthy. Guys have lived up to the expectations. We’re just excited. Big in-state battle. I think our guys are ready.”

It starts on offense for NDC and under center with fifth-year starter and quarterback Chris Brimm — who is 40-5 in career — and center Nick Bean. Brimm is the program’s alltime leader in passing yards (9,147) and passing TD (89).

At receiver, Davis Patterson returns and Lorain grad Tyshawn Lighty is expected to be a big-play threat. At running back, there is plenty of depth behind starter Idris Lawrence with the likes of Auburn transfer Jay Sharp, Krys Riley-Richardson, Tyris Dickerson and Rob Singletary.

“I think our backfield is different,” said Mack. “I think with us, it’s like a fiveheaded monster.”

In 2021, that talent led NDC to an 11-2 mark, a fourth straight Mountain East Conference title, and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, where it won a game.

With the season opener fast-approaching, the Falcons begin ranked No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association preseason Top 25 poll. The first test is on the road against a tough Ashland program that was 5-5 a year ago but has built a tradition of success.

“Our guys always have that chip on their shoulder when they go (on the road),” said Mack. “They’re ready to play. There are so many guys on our team who have played in playoff games. We’re operating at a very high clip. A lot of maturity, a lot of experience.”