Box Score

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – On an afternoon where flags were flying at a record rate, the Notre Dame Falcons set a few program records in a 42-35 loss to Lake Erie at Mueller Field. 

The Falcons (4-2, 4-1 MEC) passed for a program record, 508 yards in the loss, while Lake Erie (2-4, 1-4 GLIAC) improved to 3-0 all-time against the Falcons with the win. 

Ray Russ smashed a program record, with 548 yards through the air, and tossed four touchdown passes as well. His main target on the day was C.J. Germany, who set a program record with 263 yards receiving on the day. 

Flags were thrown on seemingly every other play, as Lake Erie College set an NCAA record, with 29 penalties, tallying over 200 yards. Turnovers were also a big factor in the game, as Notre Dame turned the ball over eight times, while the Storm coughed it up just once. 

Anthony Bilal had a monster game for Lake Erie, rushing for 228 yards with four rushing touchdowns, the first coming on a four-yard rush to end a 10-play, 80-yard drive at the 3:38-mark in the first quarter to give Lake Erie a 7-0 lead. 

It didn't take Notre Dame long to respond, as Russ found Germany on a 91-yard touchdown pass on the very next play from scrimmage to bring the Falcons within one (7-6) but the extra point was blocked. 

Notre Dame forced Lake Erie to punt on their next possession, but the Storm jumped on an NDC fumble during the punt return, and capitalized moments later on Ryan Bitzer's 24-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Lindgren to give Lake Erie a 21-6 lead with 18 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Storm Defensive Back Tony Andrews had four interceptions on the day, and his first of the day setup another Bilal touchdown rush. Bilal scored from four-yards out with 9:47-left in the half to give Lake Erie a 21-6 advantage, their largest of the day. 

Both teams would exchange punts on the following drives, before the Falcons got on the board again. The Falcons converted a fourth and five situation, and scored moments later on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Russ to Mitchell Shegos. They used that same combination to complete a two-point conversion, bringing the deficit down to seven (21-14) with 4:36 to play in the opening half. 

Notre Dame caught fire to start the second half, marching 73 yards on eight plays on a drive that was capped on a 13-yard touchdown rush from Kenneth Butler to tie the game at 21-21 at the 12:29-mark in the third quarter. 

Lake Erie's next drive went into NDC territory, but they fumbled an option pitch, which was recovered by Onslow Williams. Notre Dame could not capitalize, however, as Andrews came through with another interception for the Storm just three plays later. 

Turnovers continued to haunt the Falcons in the second half, as Butler fumbled at the NDC 28-yard line, and the Storm jumped on the loose ball. Four plays later, Bitzer found Demarco Rojas on a 34-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 16, to give Lake Erie a 28-21 lead with 3:31 left in the third quarter. 

Notre Dame was able to tie things up again on another long drive that lasted 11 plays, as they marched 76-yards down the field, and scored on a fourth and two conversion as Russ found tight end Ray J. Brown on  17-yard touchdown pass with 14:20 remaining. 

The Falcons used that same combination on their very next drive, as Russ connected with Brown on a six-yard touchdown strike to give the Falcons their only lead of the contest, 35-28, with 8:23 left in the contest. 

Lake Erie was penalized quite a bit throughout the contest, and penalties drove them back to their own eight-yard line to start their next drive, but the Storm marched 92-yards on 10 plays, and tied the game on a 43-yard touchdown rush from Bilal. 

Two plays later, Maurice Hale intercepted Russ at the NDC 40-yard line, and Lake Erie took advantage, as they went in for the eventual game winning score, on Bilal's one-yard touchdown rush with 2:02 to play. 

The Falcons had one last shot to tie the game. They were driving, and took the ball deep into Lake Erie territory, when Hale picked off Russ inside the Storm 10-yard line with less than a minute to play to seal the deal. 

The Falcons came away with 659 yards of total offense on the afternoon, which also set a new program record. Russ completed 28-of-55 passes for 548 yards, four touchdowns, but threw six interceptions. Germany was NDC's top target on the afternoon with his eight-catch, 263-yard receiving performance. Shegos went over the century mark for the third week in a row, as he hauled in seven passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. 

The Falcons return to Mountain East Conference play next week, as they play host to the No. 9 Shepherd Rams at Mueller Field in South Euclid, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.