Box Score
URBANA, Ohio – Notre Dame overcame a 17-6 first-quarter deficit to score 31 unanswered points and beat Urbana, 47-30, on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Falcons (4-6, 4-5 Mountain East Conference) forced five turnovers, including interceptions by three different NDC defenders. The Falcons also set a number of team or individual records in the game, including:
 
•    8 sacks (previous record: 6, three times)
•    15 tackles for loss (previous record: 11, 10/11/14)
•    Malik Grove five touchdown passes tied Ray Russ' record (set four times)
•    Mitch Shegos three touchdown receptions tied Colton Wallace's record set on 10/27/12
 
Urbana took a 17-6 lead but the Falcons scored 31 unanswered to take a 37-17 lead with 13 minutes left in the game.
 
Urbana (2-8, 1-8 MEC) drew first blood, taking advantage of a Notre Dame interception. The Blue Knights began their first possession at Notre Dame's 33, and despite the Falcons forcing Urbana into a fourth-down situation, Blue Knights quarterback Eric Pelfrey scrambled for a 33-yard touchdown run to give Urbana a 7-0 lead 2:16 in.
 
Notre Dame, though, responded quickly: Using a 38-yard pass from Malik Grove to CJ Germany to move down the field, Grove then found Emmanuel Smith for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 7-6 (the Falcons missed the point after).
 
Urbana, which entered the game struggling on offense, bounced back and bucked that trend, driving 76 yards in five plays and scoring on a 15-yard touchdown from Pelfrey to Shemar Hooks. Pelfrey found leading receiver Trevon Saunders for 73 yards to get the Blue Knights deep into Notre Dame territory.
 
Another Notre Dame turnover set Urbana up deep in Falcon territory on the ensuing possession, and the Blue Knights' benefited from a Falcon penalty that extended the drive. After seven plays, Ross Snodgrass kicked a 28-yard field goal to gain a 17-6 edge.
 
The Falcons, though, needed only five plays to cut the lead to one score. After two runs by Brian Walker, a Grove-to-Smith completion and a Grove run, Grove found Mitchell Shegos on a 52-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-13 Blue Knights lead.
 
Notre Dame forced a turnover on downs and then benefited from an Urbana mistake: Punter Anton Vrebac's punt was blocked, but after Urbana tried to recover the punt, the Falcons pounced. Later, Notre Dame missed a field goal, but on the ensuing Blue Streaks drive, Jake Chestnut picked off Pelfrey to give the Falcons' offense good field position.
 
Notre Dame needed just two plays to cash in and take its first lead of the game: Grove found Smith for a 25-yard touchdown over the middle to give the Falcons their first lead of the game, 20-17, with 7:08 left in the half.
 
Onslow Williams picked off Pelfrey on the Blue Knights' first possession of the second half, and Kyle Kaplan kicked a 25-yard field goal to make NDC's lead 23-17. 
 
After forcing a punt, Notre Dame needed just three plays to extend the lead. This score came on the second touchdown connection from Grove to Shegos, this time from 45 yards on a double move by Shegos. 
 
Notre Dame's defense again came through on Urbana's next possession, forcing a turnover on downs. But the Blue Knights got the ball back by forcing a Notre Dame punt. Two plays later, though, Marlon Oden jumped a Pelfrey pass, picking it off and running it back 27 yards for a touchdown to make it 37-17 Falcons.
 
Tajuan Green came on at quarterback for the Blue Knights, and Urbana scored seven plays later, on a Green touchdown pass to Saunders from 35 yards. 
 
Kaplan added another field goal, this one form 20 yards, with 6:55 left, to make it 40-24, but Green led another quick scoring drive for Urbana: It took the Blue Knights just 2:04, as an eight-play, 67-yard drive was capped by a 14-yard pass from Green to Ron Roberts.
 
Notre Dame put the game away, though, a minute later, as Grove and Shegos connected yet again to tie those school records. This score, a 37-yarder with 3:33 left, all but sealed the victory for Notre Dame.
 
The Falcons will wrap up the 2015 campaign on Nov. 14, at home vs. West Virginia Wesleyan. The action will start at 12PM and can be heard on ESPN Cleveland WKNR2 1540AM and NotreDameFalcons.com.