Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons lost their first home game of the season on Saturday afternoon, as their bid for a comeback victory came up four points short, in a 20-16 setback against Glenville State at Mueller Field.

The Falcons (3-5, 2-4 MEC) have now lost three games in a row, while the victory for the Pioneers (4-4, 4-3 MEC) snapped a five game road losing streak, dating back to last season.

The loss came despite the Falcons controlling time of possession, running 22 more plays, and having 159 more yards of offense.

Turnovers loomed large on both sides, as the two teams combined for four on the day.  Notre Dame was the first to turn it over, and did so on their opening drive.  A few plays into the game, Ray Russ's pass to Jack Foy sailed in the whipping winds, and went backwards.  The loose ball was picked up by the Pioneers deep in NDC territory, at the Falcon 14, and Glenville State's Rahmann lead took it in from eight-yards out on a fourth down and four situation for the Pioneers to give GSC a 7-0 lead. 

Notre Dame responded on their next drive, as they went 44-yards on nine plays, and got on the board on Kyle Kaplan's 27-yard field goal to narrow the deficit to four (7-3). 

NDC then took its only lead of the contest, just a few minutes into the second quarter.  A long, sustained, 12-play, 73-yard drive culminated in an 11-yard touchdown strike from Russ to Tight End Ray J. Brown, to give the Falcons a 10-7 lead with 10:12 left in the first half. 

The second Notre Dame turnover of the day proved to be just as devastating as the first.  Russ was picked off by Glenville State linebacker Elija Salas at the Notre Dame 47, and returned it to the 13 yard line.  The Pioneers scored six plays later, when quarterback Sean Steele scored on fourth and goal with a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line. 

Both defenses stepped up in the early stages of the second half, as the first points in the third quarter didn't come until 10-minutes in.  Russ's punt pinned the Pioneers deep in their own territory, at the 16-yard line with 8:53 to play in the quarter, and the Pioneers responded with a nine-play, 84-yard drive to take their largest lead of the game.  On second and 10, Lee found paydirt on the longest play of the day from scrimmage, with a 44-yard touchdown rush to give GSC a 20-10 advantage. 

Though their final drive of the third quarter stalled inside the red zone as they turned it over on downs at the GSC 19 yard line, and their first drive of the fourth quarter resulted in an interception, the Falcons still found their way back into the contest. 

Freshman QB Ryan Fallon led an eight-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, as the Falcons scored with just over five minutes remaining on Pedro Powell's five-yard touchdown rush to narrow the deficit to four (20-16).  However, the ensuing PAT was partially blocked. 

Notre Dame's defense responded on the following drive, forcing a three-and-out from the Pioneer offense, giving them one last shot to win the game. 

On the ensuing drive, which began at the Notre Dame 37-yard line, the Falcons were faced with a fourth and five situation, when Fallon found Colton Wallace on a 36-yard pass down to the GSC 22-yard line.  However, the Notre Dame offense stalled in the red zone. 

On third and two, the Falcons tried a trick play, with a direct snap going to Ray J. Brown, Brown's pass to the end zone intended for Wallace was ruled incomplete, and on the next play, the Pioneers sealed the victory as Powell was limited to a one-yard gain to turn it  over on downs.

Powell was held to 62 yards on 26 carries, while Fallon came away with 42 yards on 14 carries.  Russ completed 17-of-24 passes for 155 yards a touchdown and two picks, while Fallon completed 7-of-12 passes for 101 yards.

Jack Foy paced the NDC receiving attack with 10 catches for 91 yards, while Mikhail Morgan hauled in four passes for 59 yards, and Brown had four grabs for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Notre Dame is in action again next Saturday, Nov. 2, when they head to Institute, W.Va., in another MEC contest against West Virginia State.  Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.