Box Score
BUCKAHNNON, W.Va. – The Notre Dame Falcons finished their finest season in program history on Saturday afternoon, with a come from behind, 26-21 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. 

For the Falcons (9-2, 8-2 MEC) the victory was their seventh in their last eight on the road dating back to last season, while the loss for the Bobcats (4-7, 4-6 MEC) was their fourth in as many tries against the Falcons since 2013. 

The nine wins are a program record for the Falcons, who finished third overall in the Mountain East. Notre Dame used another 100-yard rushing performance from DJ Greene, who went over 1,000 yards on the ground for the second year in a row, as well as four touchdown passes from Malik Grove, while the Falcon defense held the Bobcats to just a 23-percent (3-for-13) conversion rate on third downs. 

West Virginia Wesleyan struck first, converting on fourth and three with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Deal to Zach Schademan to take a 7-0 lead with 7:40 left in the first quarter. 

Notre Dame answered with 8:52 left in the second quarter, as Grove threw his first of four touchdown passes on the day, finding BJ Baldwin on a 29-yard touchdown pass to cap a 7-play, 73-yard drive, tying the game at 7-7. 

The Bobcats put another scoring drive together, as Jerel English's 4-yard touchdown rush with 6:21 left in the first half gave them their second lead of the game. 

Notre Dame then put a 9-play, 70-yard drive together, and they tied the game at 14-14 with 1:10 left in the half, as Grove tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Shegos. 

West Virginia Wesleyan took advantage of a pair of penalties to set up their final score of the day. A facemask penalty against Notre Dame on a punt return, extended the drive for the Bobcats, who then took advantage of a pass interference penalty moments later, setting up Deal's 33-yard touchdown pass to Ian Waddell to put the Bobcats ahead, 21-14 with 6:13 left in the third quarter. 

On the ensuing drive, Notre Dame answered with a 15-play, 73-yard drive, and on third and goal at the 4-yard line, Grove threw his third touchdown pass of the day, finding Darius Johnson on the right side of the end zone, but NDC missed the extra point, so the Bobcats held a 21-20 lead with 20 seconds left in the third quarter. 

Notre Dame then took their first lead of the game, with just inside of four minutes left in the contest. Notre Dame went 76 yards on seven plays, and on third down and six at the WV Wesleyan 40 yard line, Grove threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Baldwin, giving NDC a 26-21 lead with 3:39 to play. 

On their next drive, Wesleyan was able to get to their own 31 yard line, but Vincent Ellis sacked Deal on a third-and-11 situation, which was followed by an incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs, and Notre Dame hung on for the victory. 

Greene ran for 100 yards on the day on 20 carries, while Grove ran for 50 yards, and Brian Walker tallied 23 rushing yards on five carries. Notre Dame ran for 173 yards, giving them 2,121 yards rushing on the season, a new program record. 

Grove completed 26-of-35 passes for 251 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He finished the year with 32 touchdown passes and only three picks. 

Shegos led all NDC receivers with 11 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. He finishes his career as the program's all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The 101 yards put him over 1,000 yards receiving for the third straight season. Baldwin caught four passes for 93 yard and a pair of touchdowns while Emmanuel Smith hauled in nine passes for 47 yards and Johnson caught two for 10 yards and a touchdown. 

Claudy Mathieu led the way for the NDC defense with six tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for a loss to go along with a pass breakup. Onlsow Williams had four tackles, including two for a loss, while Ellis and Jalon Avent both came away with sacks as well. WV Wesleyan running back Michael Anderson, who entered Saturday's game as the MEC's leading rusher with 1,382 yards on the ground, was held in check by the NDC defense, as he had just 35 yards rushing. 

The 2016 season saw the Falcons win five games on the road, and four games at home. They earned their first national Top-25 ranking in program history, and landed a third place finish in the Mountain East, with their only two losses coming against nationally ranked opponents.