SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College and Glenville State University were tied at seven, midway through the second quarter. Then, Cael Bright returned two interceptions for touchdowns on back-to-back Glenville State drives. The NDC defense would allow just nine points the rest of the way in the 38-16 win, on Saturday.

Notre Dame has not lost a game on Mueller Field since the 2019 season, winning 15 consecutive games at home.

"One thing is, our guys realize how big it is to play in South Euclid," said head coach Garrett Mack. "They realize, when we step out on Mueller Field, we're in front of great fans and great environment and every win is a big win, every opponent we play, we take seriously. We know what we have to do the rest of the year to control our destiny."

The Falcons received the ball to start the game, but were forced to punt after four plays. They would gain possession again after the ball slipped out of GSU's quarterback Anthony Garrett's hands, as he was on the run. Jack Kosko recovered the fumble for the eighth of his career, which puts him in the top spot in NDC history.

Notre Dame had the ball on Glenville State's 27-yard line. The Falcons marched down the field, beginning with Chris Brimm completing a 14-yard pass to Jeremy Hamilton. The Pioneers dropped back looking for a pass, and a huge hole opened up for Idris Lawrence to run 13 yards for a score, giving NDC a 7-0 lead, with 11:36 to go in the first quarter.

The Pioneers and Falcons each had a long drive, late in the first and into the second quarter, however, the two teams had different results.

First, Glenville State put together a 76-yard drive, the longest of the game. The first big pass play of the drive was a strike from Garrett to Orion Bonner for 17 yards. The Falcons were called for a pass interference and unnecessary roughness to help move GSU down the field. Alfred Menjor was lined up in the backfield, but went out for a pass to the left and was wide open for a 24-yard TD catch.

On NDC's drive, Brimm started four-for-four through the air, including the first catch of the season by Davis Patterson. On 3rd and 10, at Glenville's 18-yard line, Brimm ran 10 yards for the first down. The Falcons went 74 yards down the field, but a fumble on the goal line gave the ball back to Glenville State. GSU did not score on the next drive.

Later in the second quarter, with 7:27 on the clock, the Pioneers had possession in a tie game. Garrett sent a pass to the left side and Bright made a play on the ball. He ran the interception back and fought through a scrum inside the five-yard line to get into the endzone.

Three plays into the next drive, Garrett looked to the right and floated a pass that was intercepted by Bright and returned 31 yards for a touchdown.

Bright's two interceptions in a game is tied for the most in program history and his 61 interception return yards is third most in NDC history.

"On the first one, I saw in practice that there was going to be a vacancy [in that spot on the field]," Bright said. "I asked my coach, 'do you mind if I play a little slower.' On the first one, I did that and was in the right position. The second one, the play call was perfect for me. I had to expand to the zone, right there in the flat and it went right to my hands."

"Our defense is just playing different," Mack mentioned. "It's just how we play, it's what we preach. We went into this year, knowing what we could be and the best part is, we are still growing every week. It's our guy's commitment to the program and commitment to success."

In a flash, the Falcons led 21-7. GSU was resilient and put another touchdown on the board to stay within striking distance. A pass from Garrett to Javian Bellamy for 44 yards, then an 11-yard pass to Bonner set Glenville State up on the 27-yard line. A few plays later, Bellamy caught the TD pass of 16 yards, with 2:52 remaining in the first half.

On NDC's last drive of the half, the Falcons were marching down the field. Brimm ran 16 yards for a first down, but fell awkwardly and had to come out of the game. Isaiah Murphy entered and threw for one more first down, but the Falcons were stopped and Cameron Shirkey converted on a 37-yard field goal.

Early in the third quarter, Glenville State had to punt out of its own endzone, and the ball went just 18 yards. Needing 30 yards for a touchdown, Lawrence helped out by running three times for 21 yards. On third down, at the goal line, Jay Sharp was set in motion from left to right, but the pass went to CJ Kiss in the middle of the field. The Falcons led 31-14.

"We knew, with the way they were playing, they were very aggressive. We wanted to draw them in, so they thought it was a run, and then threw it right over top," Kiss said.

The NDC defense stopped GSU, again, and the offense took over. Lawrence caught a nine-yard pass and would run for 17 yards on the drive. Over the middle of the field, Brimm threw to Hamilton for 26 yards to set the Falcons up, inside the five. Lawrence ran in for his second touchdown of the game to put NDC on top, 38-14, with 5:18 remaining in the third.

Lawrence finished the game with 87 rushing yards and had his second two-touchdown game of the season.

The only other points scored in the game came on a safety. The Falcons were punting, deep on their side of the field, but the snap went over Dominic Buttazzoni's head and he kicked it out of the back of the endzone.

For the second game in a row, the Notre Dame defense did not allow a point in the second half.

"We want to be dominant," Bright said. "In the second half, we finish strong."

The Falcons will go right back on the road, next week, to battle Fairmont State University, on Oct. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.