This Week: Back on Mueller Field looking to extend its home win streak to 19 games, Notre Dame College will host Fairmont State University, on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Gameday Info: If you are planning on attending the game and are looking for more information, click here.

Records: Notre Dame holds a record of 2-1 (1-1 MEC) after falling at Glenville State in week three, 24-21. The NDC offense struggled to get going in the first half, before totaling 247 yards in the second half. The NDC defense had three interceptions before the eight-minute mark in the first quarter. Fairmont State enters the week 2-1 (1-1 MEC) after an overtime loss at home against Wheeling, 43-37. Fairmont led 23-10 at halftime, but let it get away in the second half.

Coaches Corner: Garrett Mack enters his second season at the helm of the NDC football program. He has a record of 11-4 (10-2 MEC). Jason Woodman is in his 11th year at the helm of the FSU program. He has a coaching mark of 54-45 (50-41 MEC).

Rankings: NDC is receiving two votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll.

Series History: The Falcon Bowl has featured many tightly contested games over the years, with NDC leading the all-time series, 6-3. From 2014-2019, neither team won a game by more than 12 points. Notre Dame has won the last five meetings, however, dating back to 2017. Fairmont State shut out NDC in the first meeting, back in 2010, but Notre Dame has only allowed six points over the last two matchups, outscoring the FSU Falcons, 75-6, in those games.

Noting the NDC Falcons: Notre Dame's defense could not have gotten off to a better start last Saturday, against Glenville State. On GSU's first drive of the game, Antoine Holloway II picked the ball off on a tipped pass, but on the return, he tried to lateral the ball to a teammate and the Pioneers recovered. Brayden Hall then picked off an Anthony Garrett pass in the endzone on the next drive to give the possession back to NDC. Hall would grab his second interception on Glenville's third drive of the contest. However, GSU scored first and never trailed in the game. The Falcons fought back in the second half, however. Trailing 24-6, Deshawn Evans, who came in to play quarterback for the injured Isaiah Murphy, threw two touchdown passes to James Faulkner. They also connected on a two-point conversion. Down 24-21, Notre Dame was unable to tie the game.

NDC is still top four in the conference in rush yards (596), pass yards (733) and total yards (1,329). Kicker Cameron Shirkey currently leads the conference with 33 points scored and ranks 14th in the country in scoring per game (11) and total points (33). The NDC Falcons have three players (Jacalyn Morrison, Antoine Holloway, Brayden Hall) who have recorded two interceptions this season, tied for second in the MEC. Nationally, Antoine Holloway ranks 19th in punt return average yards, with 11.2, and Nathan Rosario-Santos is tied for top spot in Division II with two forced fumbles. On defense, NDC ranks third in the MEC by allowing 18 points per game, while opponents third-down conversion percentage against the NDC defense is 13.5-percent, good for third place in the nation. NDC ranks second in the conference in total sacks, with seven, and leads the country in blocked punts (3), while ranking 4th in interceptions (7) and 9th in takeaways (9). On the offensive side, NDC is 11th in Division II in points per game, with 43.7.

Noting the FSU Falcons: Fairmont State looked like it was going to start conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2018, but Wheeling put together an impressive comeback last Saturday. It was all Falcons in the first half, as they scored a touchdown on the first drive. Following a punt return with 9:41 to go in the second quarter, Fairmont State led 23-3. A rushing touchdown by WU made the score 23-10 going into halftime. The Cardinals scored on their first two possessions of the second half to close within three, but FSU responded with a touchdown and the defense forced a Wheeling punt. The WU defense then recovered an FSU fumble and returned it for a touchdown. With the momentum, Wheeling scored 17 unanswered points to take the lead, 37-30. Fairmont State tied the game with a late fourth quarter TD. In overtime, Wheeling scored a touchdown, but the extra point was blocked. FSU had the next possession, but turned the ball over on downs.

Fairmont State is tied for first in the conference by allowing just three sacks so far this season. That has helped FSU's Michael Floria stay on his feet and average 18.9 yards per completion, which is second-best in the nation. Kobe Harris ranks seventh in Division II with 28.1 yards per reception. Fairmont's return team has been impressive with Trey Singleton returning nine kicks for 252 yards and Kobe Harris totaling 91 punt return yards, with a touchdown. FSU's Brocton Blair is second in the MEC with 28 tackles and Isaiah Powell-Major is tied for third in D2 with seven passes defended.