Box Score FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Notre Dame Falcons forced seven turnovers, and halted a second half Fairmont State comeback on Thursday night, as the won their season opener, with a 42-35 victory. (Box)

The victory for Notre Dame (1-0) marks the third year in a row that they've won their season opener, while the loss for Fairmont State (0-1) was their first in program history against the Falcons. 

Notre Dame forced seven turnovers on the night, coming away with four interceptions and jumped on three fumbles, while Fairmont State overcame a 21-0 deficit, and scored 28 straight points to get back in the game in the second half. 

Notre Dame hit the ground running, scoring on their first drive of the game. NDC's first play from scrimmage was a 59-yard pass from Ray Russ to DaJunn Graham, and two plays later, Tucker Spruill scored on a two-yard touchdown rush. 

The Falcons capitalized on a trio of FSU turnovers in the opening half as well. The first was a fumble by Fabian Guerra on a punt return, recovered by the Falcons at the FSU 38-yard line. Four plays later, Russ found the end zone on a quarterback sneak on a 3rd and goal situation to put NDC ahead, 14-0, with 6:04 left in the first quarter. 

Notre Dame's defense came through at the end of the first quarter, as Chris Pitts intercepted a pass at the NDC 15-yard line to negate a long sustained FSU drive. The NDC offense responded with a 12-play, 85 yard drive, which was capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Russ to Mitchell Shegos. 

The 21-0 lead for NDC held until Fairmont State caught fire on an 8-play, 52-yard drive, and they converted a 3rd and 28 situation, before scoring on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Cooper  Hibbs to Daniel Monroe. 

FSU got on the board one more time in the opening half, as Hibbs hooked up with Devon Garnett on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the second quarter to bring them within seven (21-14). 

Fairmont State tied the game quickly in the second half, as Monroe scored on the first play from scrimmage, a 67-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 21-21. Two minutes later, they took their first lead of the game, as Malique Watkins caught a six yard touchdown pass from Hibbs. 

Marlon Oden had two of NDC's four picks on the night, and they came on consecutive defensive possessions. His second, was a pick six that he returned 22-yards to paydirt with 7:19 to play in the third quarter, tying the game at 28-28. 

Less than a minute later, Fabian Guerra, who had 247 yards receiving on the night, caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Hibbs to give FSU their second lead of the game with 6:38 remaining. 

Notre Dame's defense clamped down from that point forward and didn't allow FSU to score again. The Falcons recovered a fumble on an FSU punt return with nine seconds left in the third quarter, and scored moments later on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Russ to Colton Wallace. 

NDC used that same connection for the eventual game winner, as Wallace hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass with 9:42 remaining, which put the Falcons over the top. 

Notre Dame's defense made a number of big stops in the fourth quarter, and on FSU's final offensive series, Sha'Haun Williams came through with a big sack on fourth down, forcing FSU to turn the ball over with 4:12 to play, and NDC ran out the clock. 

Russ had a big day through the air for NDC, completing 21 of 40 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for a score as well. Spruill led the ground game for NDC, rushing for 118 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown and Graham was NDC's leading receiver with 98 yards on six grabs. 

Defensively, Notre Dame came away with four interceptions, four sacks, and tallied eight tackles for a loss. George Berry led the way with 13 total tackles, including 11 solo stops. 

The Falcons are in action again next Saturday, Sept. 13, when they host Urbana in their home opener at Mueller Field in South Euclid, Ohio.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.