Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons scored their first shutout victory in program history on Saturday afternoon, with a 42-0 win over Virginia-Wise at Mueller Field in their 2015 home opener. 

The Falcons (1-1, 1-1 MEC) were relentless defensively all throughout the day, limiting the Cavaliers (0-2, 0-1 MEC) to just 189 yards of total offense.  

The victory was also the first in the career of head Coach Bill Rychel. The Falcons have won their last five home openers, and are 5-1 all-time in home openers. 

Not only did Notre Dame limit the Cavs to 189 yards of offense, but they did not allow them to extend drives, as the Cavaliers converted on just 16.6-percent (3-for-18) of their third down opportunities on the afternoon. In addition, the Falcons tied a program record for sacks in a game with six, and Sha'haun Williams led the way with two. 

Things got out to a great start for the Falcons in the first five minutes of the contest. After forcing a three-and-out on Virginia Wise's opening possession, the Falcons marched 66 yards down the field on eight plays, and scored on their opening drive, with a 10-yard touchdown rush from Malik Grove. 

Just a few plays later, the NDC defense got on the board, as Aykee Henderson picked off a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, giving Notre Dame a 14-0 lead with 10:15 to play in the first quarter. 

Notre Dame was kept off the board after the Henderson score for a while, until they struck with another big play, as Grove found Mitchell Shegos on a 66-yard touchdown pass 4:47 to play in the second quarter to put the Falcons up, 21-0. 

On a day where the Falcons consistently applied pressure, the Virginia-Wise offense had a very difficult time getting on track in the opening half, as they made it inside Notre Dame territory just once over the first two quarters of action. 

The Falcons converted on a fourth and two for their first touchdown of the second half, as Grove connected with Emmanuel Smith on a 29-yard touchdown strike with 5:37 to play in the third quarter to give NDC a 28-0 advantage. 

Freshman running back DJ Greene was responsible for the next two Notre Dame touchdowns. He found the end zone four seconds into the fourth quarter, on a one-yard touchdown rush to cap a 12-play, 80 yard drive. 

Greene struck again for the Falcons with 1:20 remaining in the game, as he took it in from four yards out to end an 11-play, 49 yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock. 

Grove had a nice day both on the ground and through the air. He ran for 48 yards and a touchdown, while throwing for 267 yards and two touchdowns while completing 18-of-30 passes. 

Greene was NDC's leading rusher on the afternoon, rushing for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For the second game in a row, Smith was NDC's leading receiver, hauling in eight passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. 

It was a dominant collective effort by the Falcons defensively. The Cavaliers entered Notre Dame territory just three times on the afternoon, and they were limited to just eight yards rushing. 

Zach Chatlain led the way for NDC with 12 tackles, seven solo stops, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Notre Dame had nine tackles for a loss on the day. Williams had eight tackles for Notre Dame, including a pair of sacks, and Onslow Williams came away with eight stops as well. Jonah Harper, Darius James and Shaun Jones Jr. all came away with sacks as well. 

The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they head to Moon Township, Pa., for a road tilt against Robert Morris (Pa.), in their lone non-conference tilt of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.