Box Score
Final missed FG call
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons pulled off an enormous upset victory at Mueller Field on Saturday afternoon, by defeating the previously unbeaten, No. 8 Shepherd Rams, 35-34. 

The victory for the Falcons (5-2, 5-1 MEC) is by far the biggest in the five-year history of the program, marking the first time that they've beaten an opponent ranked in the top-25 in any major poll. The loss for the Rams (6-1, 6-1 MEC) was not only their first of the season, but it was their first loss against a Mountain East Conference opponent. 

The game was decided in the final minute of the contest. On a day where both teams had to endure cold, rainy, windy conditions, the kicking game posed a bit of a problem on both sides. Shepherd was not able to convert a third and seven situation at the Notre Dame 17-yard line with 21 seconds remaining, and Shepherd kicker Ryan Earls's 34-yard field goal attempt was wide left, sealing the deal for the Falcons.  

Perhaps what was most impressive about NDC's victory, is that despite the uncomfortable weather conditions, they did not commit one turnover on the afternoon, after committing eight the week before. 

The Rams began the game with an impressive, seven play, 54-yard drive that resulted in Allen Cross's first of three touchdown runs of the day, a seven-yard dash to paydirt to give the Rams a 7-0 advantage with 11:45 left in the first quarter. 

After that drive from the Rams, they were kept off the board the rest of the half. Three of their remaining four drives in the first half resulted in punts, and they had a fourth drive end on a fumble in Notre Dame territory. 

After forcing a punt on Shepherd's second drive, the Falcons led a bizzare, 16-play, 91-yard drive, that was kept alive on a field goal attempt, where a low snap forced the holder, Colton Wallace to run for the first down on a fourth and long situation. At the end of the drive, Ray Russ threw his first of five touchdown passes on the day, on a 16-yard strike to Mitchell Shegos with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter. The Falcons found themselves behind though, due to a missed extra point. 

Notre Dame's next drive was a long one as well, as they marched 80 yards on 13 plays to take their first lead of the contest. Russ found Kyle Perkins on a 34-yard touchdown pass to put the Falcons ahead, 13-7, with 7:20 left in the first half. 

A quick five-play, 70-yard drive was completed on NDC's next drive, which started at the NDC 30 after Onslow Williams fell on a fumble, as Russ connected with BJ Baldwin, who broke a few tackles on his way to the end zone on a 41-yard touchdown reception to give NDC a 20-7 lead, which they took to the half. 

The Falcons were successful on 70.0-percent (7-for-10) of their third down conversions, in the opening half, against a Shepherd defense that had allowed opposing teams to convert an average of just 16.9-percent of their third down opportunities. 

The Rams fought back, and won the third quarter, outscoring Notre Dame, 20-10, to get right back into the contest. After forcing a Notre Dame three and out on the first drive of the half, the Rams went 76 yards on seven plays, scoring on Cross's nine-yard touchdown rush to bring them within seven (20-13) after a missed extra point at the 10:57-mark in the third quarter. 

Notre Dame answered on their next drive, which concluded with Kyle Kaplan's 35-yard field goal to give them a 23-13 lead with 8:55 left in the third. 

Shepherd scored on every one of its drives in the third quarter, and their second drive of the quarter saw them go 67 yards on seven plays, which included six rushing plays, as quarterback Jeff Ziemba scrambled for his first of two touchdowns on the day to bring Shepherd within three (23-20) with 5:20 left in the third. 

The Rams took their second lead of the game on their very next drive, which began at the Notre Dame 48 yard line. Shepherd again stuck with their powerful rushing attack, as they ran the ball six times on their eight play scoring drive which resulted in Cross's one-yard touchdown rush on fourth and goal to give the Rams a 27-23 lead with five seconds left in the third. 

The quick strike Falcons offense, which produced four scoring plays of 30-yards or more struck again at the very end of the third quarter. Following Cross's touchdown rush, on the very next play from scrimmage, Russ hooked up with Shegos for the second time on the afternoon, with a 75-yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a 29-27 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

However, the Rams came right back with an answer on their very next drive. The Rams went right down the field, paced by their powerful rushing attack, and Ziemba ran it in from 12 yards out to give Shepherd a 34-29 lead with 11:37 remaining in the contest. 

Notre Dame struck quickly once again on their very next drive, for what would prove to be the game winning score. On third and 10 from their own 35 yard line, Russ tossed his fifth touchdown pass of the game, on a 65-yard pass to Emmanuel Smith to give NDC a 35-34 advantage. 

On their next drive, Shepherd appeared to be on their way to taking the lead yet again, as they went into Notre Dame territory, but on the 12th play of the drive, inside the Notre Dame 15 yard line, the Falcons forced the second Shepherd turnover of the contest, as Ziemba fumbled the ball at the 12 yard line and the Falcons recovered. 

After Notre Dame went three and out on their final drive of the game, the Rams took over at their own 45-yard line with 3:17 to play and two timeouts. They drove the ball inside the Notre Dame 20 yard line, but after not converting on third and seven at the NDC 17, Earls was called on to hit a 34 yarder with 21 seconds left, but missed wide left. 

Russ had another huge game for the Falcons. He tied his own program record with five touchdown passes on the day. What was more impressive was that he didn't throw a single interception, and threw for 459 yards, against a defense that had surrendered just 100.8 yards per game through the air. 

Shegos was Russ's top target on the afternoon, as he produced his fourth consecutive 100-plus yard receiving performance, hauling in 11 passes for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Baldwin and DaJunn Graham also had four catches on the day, on an afternoon where Russ completed passes to six different receivers. 

George Berry paced the NDC defense with 11 tackles on the day, while Onslow Williams added nine, including two tackles for a loss and a sack. 

Notre Dame tallied 493 yards of offense, against the top ranked defensive team in the conference that was surrendering an average of just 143 yards of offense per contest. The Falcons also converted half (8) of their 16 third down opportunities. 

The Falcons will head to Glenville, W.Va., next Saturday, Oct. 25, for a meeting with the Glenville State Pioneers, in their first road tilt since Oct. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.