SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – For the second week in a row, the Notre Dame College football team has trailed at halftime. For the second week in a row, the Notre Dame College football team has rebounded for a huge second half. For the second week in a row, the Notre Dame College football team has broken program records for most yards rushing in a single game. And, for the fifth week in a row, the Notre Dame College football team has remained undefeated.
 
With a 55-21 victory against West Liberty, the No. 23 Falcons celebrated the 2018 NDC Homecoming in an impressive fashion. But it was not an easy one, especially in the first half.
 
The Hilltoppers came into South Euclid with hopes of improving their 2-2 record, and for a while, it looked like they might do just that. WLU took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass. The road team first scored on an interception return on a pass that may have hit the ground, but was ruled a pick.
 
Notre Dame began their comeback shortly after West Liberty's second score. Jaleel McLaughlin ran the ball in from 36 yards out in a foreshadowing of things to come.
 
Before halftime, Tanner Harding made a pair of field goals, from 23 and 28 yards, to bring the game within one point, but the Falcons still trailed 14-13 heading into the locker room for a break.
 
On the second play in the second half, McLaughlin took off for a 69-yard touchdown run on a play that started off as a rush up the middle, but the true freshman found a hole and hit pay dirt. Head coach Mike Jacobs said the WLU defense made adjustments from what they normally bring out after NDC ran for 440 yards in Week 4. But these adjustments may have led to big run to open the third quarter.
 
"They brought a few more hats in the box than we had seen," Jacobs said. "It's a double edge sword, though. With all those bodies in the box, you're either going to get some tackles for a loss or if a player breaks free, there's no one back there to get the stop."
 
The Hilltoppers replied on their next possession to take the lead back 21-20 after a 17-yard touchdown pass, but that's where the defense locked things down. The Falcons defense forced two three-and-outs on the next two West Liberty possessions. Then came a fourth down stop followed by a forced fumble and another failed fourth down attempt.
 
"The thing with the defense today was that they weren't put into great situations early," Jacobs said. "They were asked to respond and they kept fighting to keep us in the game. Our guys were swarming to the ball, trying to get 11 hats there. Any time you can keep a team one dimensional, with West Liberty only rushing for 35 yards, that's huge."
 
While the defense firing on all cylinders, the offense was also putting in work. Two minutes and twenty seconds after losing the lead, Chris Brimm completed a pass to Conner Henry that was taken 47 yards to the WLU end zone.
 
Brian Walker found his way across the goal line after breaking some tackles deep in Hilltopper territory, making it 34-21 before McLaughlin made another highlight play.
 
After getting the ball back after one of the defense's three-and-outs, the number 20 was called again. That first play, on a possession starting at the NDC 11-yard line, went the distance. McLaughlin sped down the right side line for 89 yards, breaking the NDC record for longest rush.
 
That was it for the Marshville, N.C. native as he hung up his cleats for the day with over 19 minutes left in the game. But the first 41 minutes were enough for McLaughlin to run for 340 yards and three touchdowns on just 26 carries, breaking NDC records for most rushing yards in a game and highest yards per carry in a game (13.1). Jaleel also broke the 1,000 yard mark, just five games into the season, making him just the third player in NDC history to reach the milestone after Ladennyawn Greene and Pedro Powell.
 
McLaughlin gave credit to his offensive line at every turn after the game.
 
"They're just focused and locked in every play," McLaughlin said. "They talk to me each and every possession and tell me what they're going to do. With the holes they create every game I just have so much confidence in them. And it's not just on game days; they're doing this on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."
 
When asked about the records, he once again turned the attention to his blockers.
 
"It means that my offensive line is the best really," McLaughlin said. "They have 1,000 yards with me, and more than that. I have to give a lot of credit to them; I'm just a speed guy."  
 
Notre Dame was not done scoring with its feature back sidelined, however. Henry had another big play on a 16-yard reverse run for six. And Brimm threw for another TD, this time a six-yard pass to Zaire Mitchell to cap things off.
 
Brimm bounced back after a pair of interceptions early to throw for 208 yards and two scores.
 
"Quarterbacks aren't guys you go over and holler at," Jacobs said on his approach with Brimm after the turnovers. "You just have to make sure he's ready for the next play. I know he's going to make enough plays to more than make up for a few fluke interceptions. Things happen and you have to roll with the punches. He bounced back and put us in some really good situations."
 
Another player Jacobs was happy to see perform well was Henry who got in for two touchdowns on two touches.
 
"Conner is a guy I've been really impressed with since I've been here," the third-year coach said. "He's been a special team's player for us and just been one of our most consistent, accountable people. To see him have some success now on the offensive side of the football validates his hard work and what he does throughout the week. He's a player I really like and I'm glad to see him have this success."
 
Not only did the team break it's rushing record with 464 yards on the ground, the team also broke the record for total offensive yards in a single game with 675. To go with the total yard records, NDC also broke its record for most yards per carry (9.5) and most yards per offensive play (8.8).
 
On defense, Guam Lee led the team with 10 tackles. Lee also forced two fumbles, tying the NDC single-game record. As a team, NDC forced five fumbles, another mark that broke a program record.
 
Sha'haun Williams tallied 2.5 tackles for a loss for the second-straight week, and Cedric Lynch snagged his second interception of the year.
 
Five games into the season and there is a lot for Falcon fans to be happy about, but as far as the team is concerned, there is a long way to go.
 
"I'm happy, but not content," Jacobs said. "We compartmentalize wins each week. They're going to enjoy this for 24 hours, but we have to come back on a short week and play a strong Fairmont State team on the road."
 
Notre Dame will play at FSU on Thursday, October 4, at 7 p.m. The NCAA will broadcast the game on its social media platforms, with a live feed on Facebook.