OFFENSE …

GROUNDED: Notre Dame's offense ran 59 plays, average 2.2 yards per. The Falcons amassed just 127 total yards for the game. NDC gained 34 yards on the ground and 93 in the air.

BREAKING IT DOWN: NDC showed balance in its play calling -- the Falcons finished the game with 31 rushes and 28 pass plays. … On first downs, Notre Dame went heavily to the run, with 20 of 24 first-down plays staying on the ground. … The Falcons were forced in numerous third-and-long situations. For the game, the Blue & White went 2-for-14 on third downs. … NDC's longest play from scrimmage was a 27-yard pass play from #Dak Britt# to #Derrick Paster# at the start of the fourth quarter.

PASS-CATCHER PASTER: Paster, an all-around talent from Berea, Ohio, had a game-high six catches on the night. He tallied 63 receiving yards.


DEFENSE …

VETERAN PRESENCE: Defensive end Bob Hansen—a starter and team captain—is a sophomore who played in all eight of Notre Dame's developmental tilts in 2009. So, in that sense he is a veteran. But Hansen is also a veteran in the best sense of the word: the Berea, Ohio, native served his country in the United States Army and served three tours of duty in Iraq. On Saturday against Mercyhurst, Hansen was dominant at the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder made five solo tackles and was in on four more with assists. He recorded two sacks, both of which came on key plays. And on a night when the program started to lay the groundwork for the future, he was a vocal leader. "We can't hang our heads because this one didn't go our way," the Berea, Ohio, native said. "We gave it everything we could. We will work. We will get better." … Hansen was named the Falcons' 2009 Team MVP by the Cleveland Touchdown Club in February.

FLOWER POWER: Cornerback #Sylvester Flowers# had a big game for the Falcons. The sophomore from Coral Springs, Fla., had four tackles (all solo) and a key interception at Notre Dame's own 2-yard line that thwarted a Mercyhurst drive.

RUN STOPPERS: Notre Dame allowed 92 yards rushing on 38 carries, for a 2.4 yards per carry against. The Falcons recorded 10 tackles for loss, with sophomore linebacker #Gary Briggs# garnering 3-1/2 to lead the way. Briggs finished with a game-high 13 stops (seven sols, six assists). Fellow sophomores John Hyde and Bob Hansen chipped in for 10 and nine tackles, respectively, and defensive back #Spencer Krebs# was the top freshman tackler on the night; he had six.


SPECIAL TEAMS …

THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER: Punter #Cayle Chapman#, a 6-foot-5 Austrailian import playing his first game of organized football, averaged 42.5 yards per kick on eight attempts. He had three kicks of 50 yards or more (50, 62, 69) and another that traveled 47 yards. He misfired twice, booting two that went just 15 yards. "I'm slowly adapting, getting into things," Chapman said. "This was great. But there is definitely room for improvement. I can work on it from here."


MISCELLANEOUS …

STIRRING CEREMONY: On Friday afternoon, Adam Howard and his staff put together a rally for the members of the team. The event was held at NDC's auditorium prior to the team's Friday practice session Notre Dame President Dr. Andrew P. Roth addressed the squad and then, with house lights down, the Notre Dame College Marching Band entered the auditorium in cadence. After the playing of the Notre Dame fight song, Falcon starters were announced over the public address and accompanied by a drum cadence and player slides on the auditorium screen.

THE RING'S THE THING: Head Coach Frank Romano and his Wrestling Falcons will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game. Members of the 2010 NAIA National Championship squad received their championship rings in a special ceremony featuring Notre Dame President Andrew P. Roth, Ph.D., and Director of Athletics Susan Hlavacek. The 2009-10 Falcons became NDC's first team to claim a national title on March 6, when they closed out the NAIA National Championship Tournament with three individual champions (Derek Foore, Jeffrey Pelton, Thomas Straughn), one runner-up (Orlando Scales, HWT) and 10 All-Americans (Top-8 finishes).

A SALUTE FOR SERVICE: Notre Dame honored Lt. John Lambert of the Brooklyn Heights Police Department between the first and second quarters on Saturday. On Feb. 27, Lt. Lambert executed an incredible display of courage when he sacrificed himself to move Mariusz Trzeciak , a Notre Dame College student and soccer player, out of harm's way on an icy stretch of highway during a winter storm. Responding to an accident involving Trzeciak's vehicle on the Jennings Freeway ramp to I-480, Lambert spotted an out-of-control oncoming car heading toward them. Lt. Lambert shoved Trzeciak out of the way at the last moment and was himself struck by the car. In his act of heroism, he suffered a broken pelvis and an orbital fracture above his left eye
Dr. Roth and Hlavacek presented Lt. Lambert with an award on the field, and the College also presented NDC scholarships for each of his two children.

FLEDGLING FALCONS: The Falcons teed up their inaugural season with a youthful roster built over two recruiting seasons. Sixty-two freshmen and 41 sophomores make up 95 percent of the Falcons roster.

STREAK-BUSTER: Mercyhurst came into its season opener off a 4-7 record a year ago. The Lakers had been 4-3 after a key win over geographic rival Gannon (Pa.) on Oct. 10, but they then closed out the season with four consecutive losses. … MC lost its season opener in 2008 and 2009. The Lakers are now 4-5 in nine season openers under Marty Schaetzle. … Saturday's 23-0 win marked the Lakers' first shutout since Sept. 6, 2008, and just the program's second since 1993.

WELCOME BACK: Notre Dame and Mercyhurst are separated by just 95 miles. Thirty Laker players -- including 10 MC starters -- hail from Northeast Ohio.

ROAD WARRIORS: After Saturday night's season opener, Notre Dame will now be on the road for their next two games and for five of their next six. … In their six 2010 road tilts, NDC Football will travel 3,876 round-trip miles. The Falcons' longest road trip will be to Owensboro, Ky. (Kentucky Wesleyan), which is 455 miles from South Euclid. … The Falcons' next home game will be on Sept. 18, when they host the preseason-ranked Walsh Cavaliers (No. 16, NAIA Coaches' Poll).