Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Notre Dame sophomore quarterback Malik Grove rushed for a program record, and conference record, 251 yards on Thursday night in a 56-44 loss to Charleston. 

For the Falcons (0-1, 0-1 MEC) the loss marked their first on opening night since 2011, while the victory for the Golden Eagles (1-0, 1-0 MEC) was their third in as many tries against the Falcons. 

In the first start of his collegiate career, sophomore quarterback Malik Grove did a number on the ground, setting a Notre Dame record and a Mountain East record, with 251 yards rushing, and ran for three scores as well. Notre Dame ran for a program record, 398 yards on the night. 

While the Falcons fell 12-points short, they showed a great deal of resiliency. They were down 20-0 nothing early on, and they were down 50-23 with three minutes left in the third quarter, before rallying to come within six (50-44) in the fourth quarter. 

Charleston scored on their opening drive, on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Johnson to Joey Augustin, who hauled in four touchdown passes on the night. The Golden Eagles took a 13-0 lead with 7:40 left in the opening half, as Marvin Elam scored on a seven yard touchdown rush. Charleston then converted on a fourth and goal at the one yard line, on a one yard touchdown pass from Mason Olszewski to Augustin to take a 20-0 lead with 3:56 left in the first quarter. 

The Falcons had a number of big plays on the day, including a pair of rushing touchdowns of 50 yards or more, with the first coming from freshman running back DJ Greene, who put the Falcons on the board with a 53-yard touchdown rush with 1:55 to play in the first quarter. 

Notre Dame narrowed the deficit to six (20-14) early in the second quarter, as they went 55 yards on three plays, with Greene finding the end zone on a one-yard touchdown rush with 13:02 left in the opening half. 

Johnson found the end zone again in the first half for the Golden Eagles, this time with is feet, on a seven yard touchdown rush with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter to give UC a 27-14 lead, which they took into the half. 

It didn't take either team long to get going in the second half, as they both scored in their opening drives. UC scored on their first play from scrimmage in the second half, on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Augustin, and Notre Dame scored on their third play from scrimmage on the following drive, on a 57-yard touchdown rush from Grove to make it 34-21 with 13:41 left in the third quarter. 

Unfortunately for the Falcons, that was their only offensive score in the third quarter. Charleston responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass on their next drive from Olzsewski to Augustin, but the extra point was blocked, and returned by Aykee Henderson to give NDC two points, making it 40-23 with 12:44 left in the third quarter. 

The Golden Eagles would get three more on a 38-yard field goal from Bret Benes, and they took their largest lead of the game with just over three minutes left in the third quarter on a five-yard touchdown rush from Tevion Cappe to give them a 50-23 lead. 

Notre Dame came storming back in the fourth quarter, and the comeback began on Grove's only touchdown pass of the day, a 14-yard strike to Emmanuel Smith to bring NDC within 20 (50-30) with 11:51 left. 

Grove found the end zone again on the ground for the Falcons, this time on a 34-yard touchdown rush with 4:11 to play. The NDC defense forced a huge fumble on the ensuing possession, which was recovered by Robert Goodwin and returned to the UC one yard line, where Grove took it in on a quarterback sneak for his third rushing touchdown of the night, and the Falcons were back within six (50-44) with 3:51 remaining. 

The Golden Eagles responded with a five play, 57-yard drive that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Olzsewski to Cappe on third and eight situation to put the game away. 

Grove ran for 251 yards on 20 carries for three touchdowns, breaking Pedro Powell's previous program record set against Malone back on Oct. 27, 2012. Through the air, Grove completed 18-of-38 passes for 142 yards with a touchdown and a pick. 

Greene had a huge day on the ground in his NDC debut as well, as he ran for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Falcons set a new program record with 398 yards rushing on the night, besting their previous program best of 367 set back on Aug. 30, 2012 against Mercyhurst. 

Smith led the Falcons with eight grabs for 86 yards and a touchdown. 

Marlon Oden came away with a team high, 11 tackles on the night, while Zach Chatlain, Shaun Jones and Elliot Long all came away with one sack each on the night. 

The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they host their home opener at Mueller Field against Virginia-Wise in South Euclid, Ohio. The Mountain East Conference tilt is scheduled for a Noon kickoff.