This Week: Notre Dame College travels to West Virginia Wesleyan College for a 12 p.m. kickoff tomorrow, October 20. 

Records: Notre Dame College is 7-0 (7-0 MEC) after a 45-14 home win last week against Urbana. West Virginia Wesleyan College most recently lost 35-14 on the road at UVa-Wise to move its record to 1-6 (1-5 MEC).

Coaches Corner: Mike Jacobs is in his third year as the head coach of the NDC football program. He has an overall record of 24-5 (23-4 MEC). Del Smith is also in his third year at the helm of Wesleyan football. Smith is 10-19 (10-16 MEC).

Rankings: Notre Dame is ranked No. 14 in the October 15 AFCA Coaches' Poll. This is the first time the Falcons have broken into the top 15 in program history. NDC debuted at No. 23 on September 24 before moving up to 20, 17 and now 14.

Series History: The Falcons are 4-1 against the Bobcats after WVWC upset NDC 20-13 in South Euclid last season. The series has had a history of close games with NDC winning 26-21 in 2016, 47-44 in 2014 and 34-25 in 2013. The largest margin of victory came in 2015 as the Falcons won 60-20.

Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame has been able to take advantage on big plays a lot in 2018. The Falcons have had 35 plays so far this year of 20 yards or longer, 15 on runs and 20 on pass plays. Those plays of 20 or more yards have accounted for 1,333 yards this season (39.8 percent of the team's total offensive yards). NDC has had at least one rush and one pass over 20 yards in each game this season. Notre Dame had a season-low 82 yards gained on big plays against Fairmont State in week six. The Falcons returned to their big-play ways in week seven against Urbana as the team had plays of 85, 65, 31, 27 and 22. Those 230 yards accounted for 52.0 percent of the team's total 442. That marks the second time this year, NDC has relied on big plays for over half of its offensive yards. In every game, other than the Fairmont State contest, NDC has had at least 25 percent of its total offensive output come on big plays, and in five games that mark has been above 35 percent. Jaleel McLaughlin and Marvelle Ross have been the major providers of these plays this season. Of the Falcons 652 rushing yards on big plays, McLaughlin accounts for 406 (62.3 percent) while Ross ac- counts for 381 of the 681 yards on big passing plays (55.9 percent).

Noting the Bobcats: West Virginia Wesleyan's play so far this year has been a fun house mirror of Notre Dame's. WVCW has lost all its games but one while NDC is undefeated. The Bobcats are last in the MEC in rushing (60.9 ypg) while the Falcons lead the league (296.4). Wesleyan is second-best in passing (244.4 ypg) while NDC is third-lowest (182.4). WVWC leads the league in kick return yards (23.0 avg.) as the team has had the most returns this season (40); NDC has had the fewest kick returns (20) and ranks last in average (14.9). Notre Dame has gained the ball on nine fumble recoveries while West Virginia Wes- leyan has lost the ball on nine fumbles. The Bobcats have the second-fewest first downs (116) while NDC has the second-most (148).

By the Numbers

2.6: Passed defended per game by Jeffrey Thomas. That mark ranks second in NCAA DII.

19: Turnovers gained by the Notre Dame defense this season. That mark ranks third in NCAA DII. The Falcons have only lost eight turnovers.

37.2: Yards per kick return from WVWC's Kenny Lewis Jr. That mark ranks fifth in NCAA DII. Lewis Jr. did not return kicks in the first three games, but in the last four he has 484 yards on 13 tries.

219.29: All-purpose yard per game gained by Jaleel McLaughlin per game. That mark ranks first in NCAA DII.

57.1: Percent of red zone attempts opponents have scored against Notre Dame. That mark ranks third in NCAA DII. NDC has stopped op- ponents nine times in 21 attempts inside the 20-yard line.