SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Another strong second half performance by Notre Dame College comes up just short this week against Fairmont State University. For the first time since 2016, FSU wins the Falcon Bowl by a score of 17-14.
 
"We are a young team," head coach Garrett Mack said. "There are a lot of firsts right now and we need to continue to grow. Starting the game fast and starting strong are things we need to figure out."
 
Fairmont State was set up in good field position on its second drive of the game, following an NDC punt. FSU quarterback Michael Floria completed a pass to Winston Page which turned into a 19-yard reception. Fairmont State was in the red zone, but quickly moved back on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. And then, on third down, NDC's Nathan Rosario-Santos ran Floria down for a 15-yard loss. They sent Emmanuel Richardson out to attempt a 50-yard field goal, but the kick was no good.
 
Fairmont State had allowed just three sacks all season prior to the game and Notre Dame totaled three on Saturday. Rosario-Santos had one, while Isaiah Stephens was credited with two. Stephens also had five tackles for loss, which ranks tied for third in a game in program history.
 
The NDC Falcons moved the ball on their second drive, highlighted by a strong throw from quarterback Deshawn Evans to Michael Solomon for 30 yards down the sideline. However, NDC moved to FSU's 29-yard line, but stalled out there.
 
With the aid of two big NDC penalties, Fairmont State went 67 yards down the field and put the first points on the scoreboard. Richardson sent a 20-yard kick through the uprights, with 3:13 to go in the first quarter.
 
NDC had to punt the ball away and Fairmont State used a 22-yard return and an NDC penalty to move the ball to NDC's 33-yard line. Kobe Harris, who was used in the backfield and as a receiver, capped the short drive with an eight-yard run to give FSU a 10-0 advantage, early in the second quarter.
 
Fairmont drove down the field again, following a quick NDC possession and punt. The Notre Dame defense did make a stop and forced an FSU punt, but the NDC Falcons were called for leaping over the FSU line and a 15-yard penalty gave Fairmont State new life. Floria would scamper into the endzone to give FSU a 17-0 advantage.
 
With 7:31 on the second quarter clock, Notre Dame put its best drive together, moving 87 yards down the field. Up against the sideline, Evans found Rico Small for a 39-yard catch. An FSU pass interference put the NDC Falcons on the 16-yard line. Another pass interference put Notre Dame on the six-yard line, knocking on the door. However, NDC was stopped and a field goal attempt was missed.
 
The Notre Dame defense did all it could in the second half. For the second week in a row, NDC did not allow an opponent to score in the final 30 minutes of the game. The offense posted 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, finishing the game with 350 yards of total offense.
 
Evans began to lead the NDC offense to start the third quarter, finding James Faulkner for 11 yards and Jay Sharp for 13 yards. However, the NDC Falcons would have to punt the ball away. FSU attempted a 45-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, but the kick was missed.
 
Notre Dame's next drive began on its own 28. On the third play of the drive, an Evans pass was dangerously close to being picked off by Fairmont's Brocton Blair, but the ball went through his arms into the waiting hands of Andre Allen Jr. Allen moved ten yards down the field and on the next play, Evans delivered the ball into the hands of a sprinting Solomon for a 42-yard score.
 
NDC had a chance to cut the deficit to seven on its next drive, late in the third quarter, but a field goal attempt was blocked.
 
With 13:30 on the fourth quarter clock, Notre Dame needed a momentum-shifting play. Floria threw a ball just over the finger tips of Harris, and Dante Abrams Jr. made the interception to give the ball back to the Notre Dame offense on FSU's 35-yard line.
 
Evans found Allen for 20 yards, Sharp for six and then spotted Devin Morgan, who found the endzone for his first career touchdown catch. Notre Dame trailed by three points, with just under 12 minutes to go.
 
Fairmont State went 51 yards down the field, but a couple penalties stopped any momentum that had been built. The FSU Falcons would turn the ball over on downs.
 
The NDC Falcons had chances to tie or take the lead with two late possessions, but Fairmont stepped up with back-to-back interceptions to close the game.
 
This is NDC's first loss at home since the 2019 season.
 
Rosario-Santos finished with 11 tackles and Stephens added 10. On the offensive side, Evans got the start for an injured Isaiah Murphy and had 312 passing yards with two touchdowns. Solomon caught three passes for 83 yards, while Lighty had two catches for 65 yards. Sharp, who started in place of Idris Lawrence, had success out of the backfield, catching five passes for 51 yards.
 
The NDC Falcons will look to regroup as they will pack up and head to Frostburg State University for a matchup with the Bobcats on Sept. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.