SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Nearly everyone who had a Notre Dame College uniform on contributed in a historic performance on Mueller Field. Mountain East Conference play began on Saturday and the Falcons posted 28 points in the first quarter and 28 points in the second quarter, setting the tone in the 87-9 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan College.
 
In the victory, Notre Dame set program and conference records in total points, total touchdowns (12) and rushing touchdowns (9). In NDC history, their 383 rush yards on the day ranks sixth all-time, their 643 total yards is fourth most in a game and their 774 all-purpose yards is third highest. The Falcons' defense hauled in three interceptions, which is tied for fifth in the Notre Dame history books.
 
"We've made it a point each week to go 1-0, regardless of who we are playing or where we're playing," said head coach Garrett Mack. "Our standard is our standard. Our expectation is the same of our starters all the way to the freshmen who got in the game today."
 
The first three touchdowns of the game were a bit unconventional for the Falcons. After receiving a West Virginia Wesleyan punt, early in the first quarter, Notre Dame's offense took over and immediately went down the field. Junior Isaiah Murphy found senior Napoleon Harris for the first reception of the day, that went 29 yards. Murphy went 4-for-4 on the first drive, which included a 23-yard strike to redshirt-sophomore Michael Solomon and a 14-yard completion to junior James Faulkner. Junior Idris Lawrence did most of the damage on the ground, running for 24 yards over three attempts, however, he would catch a short pass at the end of the drive for a three-yard touchdown.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore Nathan Rosario-Santos ran down the field and stripped the ball from WVWC returner Nate Garnett, allowing junior Jason Mitchell to recover it and run into the endzone, giving NDC a 14-0 lead before the Bobcats started their second possession.
 
Rosario-Santos, who finished with three tackles and a quarterback hurry, has two forced fumbles already this season.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan did move the chains, with an 11-yard pass, but the drive came to a halt and the punt team was called upon. Aaron Vardell caught the snap but had very little time to send the ball away. Redshirt-junior Michael Peyton blocked the punt and after the ball rolled on the field for a few yards, it was recovered by NDC.

"Our program is three phased with our offense, our defense and our special teams and we don't make sacrifices to any of those," Mack explained. "They are all important."
 
Starting the next drive on the Bobcats' 4-yard line, NDC had some trouble pushing the ball into the endzone. On fourth down, Murphy went under center on the 1-yard line and snuck in to give the Falcons a 21-0 lead at the 6:37-mark in the first quarter.
 
The Falcons then began running the ball at a historic pace. The team posted six rushing touchdowns by the end of the first half. Along with the short run by Murphy, junior Jay Sharp ran in from three yards away in the first quarter and then broke through for a 75-yard rushing TD with 7:21 remaining in the second quarter. Junior Krys Riley-Richardson had a 53-yard run at the beginning of the second quarter and then put NDC up 56-0 with a 55-yard run, near the end of the second quarter. Lawrence ran in from the goalline, early in the second quarter.
 
"[The running game] is a process, the offensive line getting it going, the running backs seeing the holes, making their cuts," Mack mentioned.
 
"When the offensive line gets going, we all get going. That's the glue of the team. The tone is set up front," Riley-Richardson said.
 
NDC had three running backs (Riley-Richardson, Keshawn Huguely, Sharp) who finished the contest with over 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the first time in program history. The last time NDC had multiple running backs run for over 100 yards in a game was Nov. 30, 2019 versus Kutztown (Jaleel McLaughlin, DJ Green). Riley-Richardson and Sharp each averaged 20.8 yards per rushing attempt, on Saturday. The Falcons finished with 383 rushing yards, the most since April 10, 2021, when NDC ran for 400 yards against Wheeling.
 
All in the first half, Notre Dame had separate drives of 74 yards, 69 yards, 63 yards, 75 yards and 80 yards. Riley-Richardson had totaled 118 of his 125 rushing yards and Sharp had all 104 of his rushing yards after 30 minutes of game time, as Notre Dame led 56-0. Murphy, who went 7-for-11 for 124 passing yards, was out of the game before the end the second stanza.
 
Notre Dame did not stop there, as they added 31 points in the second half. The team still racked up 242 total yards in the final 30 minutes.
 
However, WVWC would score the first points of the third quarter, when Eudean Dobson returned a fumble 38 yards to paydirt. The Bobcats would add two more points in the fourth quarter after an NDC snap went through the back of the endzone.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Keshawn Huguely took over the running back duties and ended the game with a career-high 111 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Trei'Shaun Sanders also ran in for his first career touchdown.
 
Junior Keyshawn Johnson caught a 63-yard pass from junior Deshawn Evans and ran in for six points, which was the first touchdown as a member of the Falcons for both of them. Evans threw for a career-high 120 yards.
 
On the defensive side, redshirt-sophomore Christian Taylor had a career day, posting two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. For the second week in a row, junior Jacalyn Morrison had a pick while teammates Michael Peyton and senior Antoine Holloway II each had an interception, as well. NDC had eight tackles for a loss and three sacks.
 
"[The defensive unit] is coming together real well," Morrison said. "We had a couple questions in the spring season, but, now we're coming together as a family. We're all close-knit and communicate."

Senior Cameron Shirkey broke the program and conference record for most extra points made (12) in a game and ranks second in program history with 15 points contributed by kicking.
 
NDC will go on the road for the first time this season, heading to Glenville State University, on Sept. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.