Box Score
INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- The Notre Dame Falcons used a huge first half to score their first road victory of the season, in a 42-16 victory over West Virginia State. 

The victory for the Falcons (4-5, 3-4 MEC) snapped a three game losing streak, and was their first on the road since defeating Malone, 36-19, in Oct. 27, 2012.  The loss for the Yellow Jackets (0-9, 0-8) marked their 15th in a row. 

Notre Dame capitalized on strong special teams play, a big early turnover and consistent offensive production in the first half to take an early edge and never looked back.  The Falcons blocked a punt, a field goal, and an extra point on the afternoon.

The opening kickoff was returned to the WVSU 32 yard line by Michael Fields, and the Falcons scored nine plays later, as Pedro Powell pushed his way into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown rush, his first of three on the day. 

The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Yellow Jackets, and the Falcons jumped on the loose ball at the WVSU 47 yard line.  The drive ended the same way the first one did, with Powell rumbling his way into the end zone, only this time he wrestled his way out of four tackles for a four-yard touchdown rush to give the Falcons a 14-0 advantage. 

West Virginia State responded on their next drive, and cut the deficit in half, as they capped a nine play, 44-yard drive, when Tyler Seals found Shannin Bennefield on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5:30 to go in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive, the Yellow Jackets picked off the Falcons inside NDC territory, but the Falcon defense diffused the potential disaster, by limiting the Yellow Jackets to a 45-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked.

Notre Dame thoroughly dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 28-0 to take a commanding lead and never looked back.  They went 75 yards on nine plays and Powell found the end zone for a third time, on a five-yard touchdown rush to give NDC a 21-7 lead with 11:07 left in the first half.

It didn't take Notre Dame long to respond on their next drive, as they went 85 yards on three plays, as Jack Foy scored on the longest play of the day, catching a 74-yard touchdown pass from Ray Russ to give the Falcons a 28-7 advantage.

For the fourth time in the first half, the Falcons used nine plays to find paydirt, as they went 67 yards in just 2:20, and Ryan Fallon took it into the end zone on a quarterback scramble, giving NDC a 35-7 lead with 1:25 left. 

The Notre Dame defense then forced another three-and-out on West Virginia's next drive, forcing them to punt just outside their own end zone.  Notre Dame then blocked the punt, and Onslow Williams fell on the ball in the back of the end zone for the touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets came away with a touchdown and a field goal in the second half, but it was nowhere near enough to overcome a 42-7 halftime deficit. 

The Falcons ran for 269 yards on the afternoon, and Powell led the way with 160 yards to go along with trio of touchdowns, as he went over 4,500 career rushing yards in the process.  Fallon gained 51 yards on the ground on six carries with a touchdown as well. 

In addition, Notre Dame converted 64.2-percent (9-for-14) of their third down conversions.  Russ completed 13-of-19 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Fallon completed 6-of-16 passes for 42 yards. Foy led the way for the Falcons for the second week in a row, with 10 receptions for 129 yards and a score. 

Notre Dame is in action again next Saturday, Nov. 9, on Senior Day, for their final home game of the season against Concord (W.Va.).  Kickoff at Mueller Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.