COLUMBIA, Ky. -- It took staunch defense and some tense moments, but Notre Dame punched in a pair of rushing touchdowns on gritty runs and made those scores hold up in a 14-10 win over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) on Saturday.  (Box | Postgame Notes)

The Falcons hit paydirt for the first time in program history -- first on a 10-yard, trucking dash by #Khalid Harrison# and then on a 1-yard run by #Pedro Powell# -- and Notre Dame's defense came up big under pressure to preserve the four-point win over an LWC squad playing its inaugural game. Notre Dame and Lindsey Wilson are two of six collegiate programs getting underway in 2010; they are the NAIA's two newest entrants among 93 programs.

“It feels good to get one under our belt'” said Head Coach #Adam Howard# of the first victory in program history. “Getting to this point has been a lot of work for two years, really. And work on the part of a lot of people at our College, both on and off the field. To get a win and get the momentum building is huge for our program.”

And that momentum got rolling early on Saturday afternoon in a packed Blue Raider Stadium, which was hosting its first game.

The Notre Dame defense forced a three-and-out in the Blue Raiders' first series of the game. The Falcons then cut nearly all the way down the artificial surface of Blue Raider Stadium in just two plays. On their first play from scrimmage, sophomore running back #Tim Donald# rattled off a 32-yard run. Moments later, freshman quarterback #James Flowers# -- who was named the NDC starter late in the week -- hit wide receiver #Derrick Paster# on a crossing pattern and the sophomore receiver got all the way down to the LWC 16 on what amounted to a 23-yard gain.

That drive stalled at the 12, however, and a 29-yard NDC field-goal attempt was blocked by the Blue Raiders. With that momentum in tow, Lindsey Wilson then pulled off a tremendous trick play -- a double-pass, the second of which was a 57-yard dart from Greg Young to Cameron Zuehlsdorf. That set up the first score of the game, a booming 43-yard field goal by place-kicker Mark Corbett.

Down, 3-0, Notre Dame started what would become the first scoring drive in program history late in the first quarter after a diving interception by free safety #John Hyde#. The Falcons used the pick as a springboard to an impressive 55-yard drive. #Dak Britt# came in under center and he engineered a 12-play, six-minute-45-second drive that culminated with a powerful 10-yard touchdown run by fullback #Khalid Harrison#. Britt completed two passes on the drive and had a 16-yard scamper as well. Harrison had five carries for 41 yards, as the Falcons scored their first points 83 minutes-and-15-seconds into the season after being shut out, 23-0, in their opener against Mercyhurst (Pa.). That TD put the Falcons up, 7-3.

At the end of the first half, NDC preserved that 7-3 lead with a stout effort in the shadow of its own goal line. The Falcons defense held the line on three straight plays after allowing the Blue Raiders to get down to the NDC 1-yard line. LWC Head Coach Chris Oliver opted to go eschew an easy field goal and go for six as the first half time ticked away.

“We showed great character there,” said Howard. “We could've easily given up, but our guys played one down at a time, and we stuffed them right before the half. That proved to be the difference.”

Notre Dame took what at the moment looked like a commanding 14-3 lead 10 minutes into the third quarter when freshman running back #Pedro Powell# punched the ball over the goal line from one yard out. But Lindsey Wilson counterpunched and did so right away. On the ensuing kickoff, LWC returner Richard Kennedy sped up the middle of the field and broke through several tackles en route to a 94-yard TD. That made the game 14-10, with the visiting Falcons on top.

The two start-up programs then traded possessions until the end of the game, when Lindsey Wilson marched down the field, from their own 36 into the red zone. But that drive stalled on a big sack by #Michael Lanigan# that sent the Blue Raiders backward, to the NDC 36. On fourth and goal from the 26, LWC quarterback Ricky Bowling was pressured and then picked off by John Hyde, who returned the ball 26 yards to the Falcon 30.

NDC was then forced to punt but, with 3.5 seconds remaining, the Blue Raiders couldn't muster a miracle multiple-lateral on the final play of the game. 

For the game Notre Dame was a plus-3 in the turnover battle. NDC was solid on offense at times and at other points of the game struggled to move the chains. The Falcons and Blue Raiders were as even on Saturday's stat sheet as they are in the history books:

NDC gained 191 total yards on 57 plays. The Falcons garnered 13 first downs and held the ball for 27:55. LWC rolled up 194 total yards on 63 plays. The Blue Raiders' time of possession was 32:05.

The NDC defense held the host Raiders to just 32 rushing yards on 33 carries. In a game that was a war of attrition, Notre Dame's 106 yards on the ground (34 carries) loomed large and the NDC backs carried the ball over the goal line on 11 of those yards.

Tim Donald finished the game with 47 yards on eight carries. Khalid Harrison added 40 yards on 10 carries. James Flowers and Dak Britt combined to go 11-of-23 for 85 passing yards. For a second straight week, #Derrick Paster# was the Falcons' leading receiver; he had four catches for 39 yards.

Defensively, the Falcons were led by #Sylvester Flowers# (seven tackles), #Bo Grunder# (seven tackles), #Bob Hansen# (five tackles, three sacks) and John Hyde (five tackles, two interceptions).

“We saw improvement this week,” said Howard. “I thought we handled adversity better this week. We were in some tough situations that we didn't give up on, and that showed some maturity and some growth from week one to week two.”