SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Things did not begin the way the Notre Dame College football team would have liked in its non-conference game against Findlay. And the Oilers' last-ditch effort at the end of the contest was somewhat successful, but NDC's play in between was strong enough to come out on top and stay undefeated as the Falcons' 24-19 win moved them to 8-0.
 
Notre Dame started the game off with the ball, but fumbled on its opening play. Findlay, who recovered at the NDC 35-yard line, was held up by the Falcon defense and converted on a 25-yard field goal.
 
NDC marched downfield on its next possession to tie it up 3-3 after Tanner Harding made a field goal of his own from 35-yards out.
 
Both defenses stood up their counterparts for the remainder of the first quarter. In the second, Jaleel McLaughlin broke through twice with nine- and eight-yard touchdown runs in which he broke multiple tackles and drug opposing players with him past the goal line. The sophomore, who now has 20 touchdowns on the year, put his team up 17-3 going into halftime.
 
McLaughlin's first touchdown capped off an eight-play, 63-yard drive that was set up by the NDC defense after Curtis Collins and Bryce Sheppert stopped Findlay short on a fourth-down conversion attempt. His second TD came after a huge catch-and-run play from Marvelle Ross, who took a ball from Chris Brimm 70 yards down deep into UF territory.
 
After the game, Ross gave a quick answer on his ability to convert big plays when NDC needs them.
 
"My number was called," Ross said. "And when that happens, I just try to get what I can get."
 
If the second quarter belonged to Notre Dame, then the third surely belonged to Findlay. The Oilers out-scored NDC 10-0 in the third quarter to bring the game within one possession (17-13). But, like they have done all season, the Falcons replied.
 
Notre Dame took up nearly four-and-a-half minutes to drive down and score once again on the team's first drive in the final quarter. Ladennyawn Greene capped off the drive with a stellar five-yard run where he changed directions with a plant of his right foot to reach the end zone.
 
Greene, a fifth-year senior, used his knowledge of the game to find an open hole.
 
"I was watching the entire game and noticed that they were flowing hard overtop," Greene said. "I just trusted my keys and trusted what I was seeing during the game. When I got the ball, I saw the defense flowing hard again and knew I would be able to cut back."
 
All three of the NDC touchdown runs were plays to remember with broken tackles and jukes that highlighted the skill Notre Dame has in the backfield.
 
"I've said it consistently all year that we are more than blessed at the running back position with the talent we have," head coach Mike Jacobs said. "Our players' abilities to make defenders miss and get yards after contact is incredible. You're not always going to be able to get a hat on a hat, there will be times when there's a defender you can't block. That's when those running backs earn their scholarships.
 
"They're so consistent and work so hard every week. It's not just DJ and Jaleel, but Vasean Davis does a great deal and Jalen Boyd is doing a great job; we get a lot out of that running back room."
 
Findlay would make things exciting, scoring with 46 second left to play on an 11-play drive that only took 1:53 off the clock. The Oilers then kicked and took possession on an onside kick despite both teams claiming the ball was theirs. With 44 second to play, there was only a five-point difference on the scoreboard.
 
After a fumbled snap sent them back to their own 32-yard line, Findlay took one last shot on a play that started off with a completed pass to the 50, but was pitched back five times to the UF 34. The Notre Dame defense celebrated after the referee called the game.
 
Jacobs said he was certain in his defense's ability at the end of the game to give them the result they needed.
 
"I have an awful lot of confidence in our pass rush and thought our defensive backs played arguably their most complete game all season," Jacobs said. "I can't say enough about how they played today. When they game is on the line, our defense is able to step up and make big plays. I thought our defensive effort was superb."
 
If anyone was going to predict the game would be competitive down to the final seconds, it was Jacobs himself.
 
"We knew all week that this was going to be a 60-minute game" Jacobs said. "I have quite a bit of respect for Rob Keys and the job that the staff at Findlay does. They're built a lot like us. They run the football well and they're good on rush defense. Anytime you have two teams who do that well, you're going to be for an all-day sandwich. I thought our player's week of preparation and their focus was on a next level. I'm just really proud of their effort today."
 
Chris Brimm ended the game with 207 yards on 13-of-19 passing while McLaughlin netted 166 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Ross led both teams in receiving yards with 141 on four catches.
 
Defensively, Sha'haun Williams led the Falcons with nine total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss. He came up big multiple times throughout the game with 2.5 sacks. Curtis Collins and Nathan Moore each recorded eight tackles. Moore was second on the team with 2.0 tackles for a loss while Collins was in on one stop behind the line of scrimmage.
 
The win meant a lot for both Jacobs, his program's hunt for a return to the playoffs, and the perception of the Mountain East Conference.
 
"We knew we had to play well and carry the torch for the Mountain East Conference," Jacobs said. "I don't know why people continue to doubt the caliber of some of the programs in this conference week in and week out when four of the last five Super Region 1 winners have come out of the Mountain East. There is always respect on the line. Not just for our program, but for our conference.
 
"I believe that if you want to be a playoff caliber football team in Division II, you have to do things like schedule uncommon opponents. I believe in scheduling good competition, that's how you get better as a program."
 
NDC now leads the NCAA Division II home-field winning streak with 13.
 
Notre Dame will return to conference play next week at Frostburg State who is nipping at the Falcons' heels in the standings. The Bobcats are currently second in the MEC with a 7-1 (7-1 MEC) record. Kickoff on Saturday, November 2, is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.