This Week: Notre Dame College travels to Wheeling, W.Va. for a Thursday night matchup, with a kickoff time of 7 p.m. This will be the only Thursday night game for NDC, while Wheeling is playing their second consecutive game on a Thursday.

Records: Notre Dame is 1-0 after defeating Ashland University, 42-35 in a back-and-forth contest that was decided in overtime. Wheeling is 0-1, coming up just short against Seton Hill, 16-14.

Coaches Corner: Mickey Mental is in his second season as head coach of the NDC football program. He was awarded MEC Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to an undefeated 2020 season. He has a 6-0 record. Zac Bruney became the first head coach of the Wheeling football program and is now in his third season on the sideline. His record is 3-13.

Rankings: In the latest polls, Notre Dame is ranked No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Divsion II top 25 and No. 9 in the D2Football.com top 25. This will be the 22nd consecutive week that NDC is featured in a Division II National Poll.

Series History: NDC leads Wheeling 2-0 in the all-time series. Notre Dame has scored over 50 points in both matchups, winning 51-13 in 2019 and 55-7 last season.
 
Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame was able to get the victory over Ashland with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Chris Brimm to Devanaire Conliffe in overtime. The game featured five ties and three lead changes. It marked the fourth consecutive year that NDC won their season opener and 11th consecutive season that the Falcons came out on top in a home opener. Ashland's offense was potent and outgained NDC by 252 yards (548-296), including plus-58 yards on the ground (196-138) and plus-194 (352-158) through the air. The last time a team totaled more rushing, passing and total yards against the Falcons was Sept. 15, 2018 against WV State. NDC won that game, 33-31.

The Falcons took their first lead of the day on a program record 99-yard kickoff return to start the second half by Bryce Sheppert. Another note from special teams was Tanner Harding reaching 200 career extra point kicks, and sits at 203, after he went 6-for-6 against Ashland.The defense had two forced fumbles, one that was returned 65 yards by Guam Lee for a touchdown, along with an interception by Tavon Hooks in the fourth quarter and big stop on fourth and one in overtime.

In the first Player of the Week awards handed out by the MEC, Chris Brimm was named Offensive Player of the Week (15-25, 158 passing) and Bryce Sheppert was given Special Teams Player of the Week (3 KO returns, 127 yards, return TD).

Noting the Cardinals: In their season opener against Seton Hill, a touchdown pass from Trent Jackson to Jaquaun Davidson put the Cardinals on top, 7-3, at the 11:35 mark in the second quarter. They would lead 7-6 at the half over Seton Hill. A third field goal by SHU, followed by their first touchdown of the game, gave the Griffins a 16-7 lead in the third quarter. Near the end of the third stanza, Wheeling's Christian Jones forced a fumble, which was picked up in the endzone by Jermichael Isom. The Cardinals' defense forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, but Wheeling could not score. The Cardinals were held to just 183 yards of total offense and went 3-13 on third down conversions. Jackson went 15-28, with 128 yards, a TD and an INT.

Wheeling has several familiar faces from the shortened 2020 season. Aside from quarterback Trent Jackson, every starter at running back, receiver or tight end returns after having productive seasons in the past. Sy Alli, and backup Eli Young, are back as the running back duo. The top five players in receiving yards in 2020 return (Ryan LaFollette, Tristan Ballard, Jake Keenan, Jaquaun Davidson and Chris Canaday). On defense, 13 of WU's top 14 tacklers from last season are listed on their depth chart in 2021.