A month ago, Notre Dame College looked like a football team out of sorts in a 31-14 season-opening loss at Ashland.
A month later, the Falcons look like a team that will be difficult to beat down the stretch.
Oct. 1 at Mueller Field, NDC started fast when Jay Sharp took the opening kickoff 99 yards to the house and never looked back in a 49-24 victory.
The Falcons improved to 4-1, and 4-0 in the Mountain East Conference, with a game at Frostburg State on deck Oct. 8. NDC also got good news across the conference as Concord — which entered Oct. 1 at 4-0 and 3-0 in the MEC — lost at Fairmount State, 10-9. The Falcons are alone in first place in the MEC.
“You’re seeing now, back-to-back weeks, we’re hitting our stride,” said NDC senior offensive lineman Adam Riegler of his team scoring 97 points in its last two games. “The sky’s the limit for this offensive line. I’m really excited to see what happens in the future.”
Running back Idris Lawrence had a huge game for NDC with 188 yards on 14 carries and two short touchdown runs. His long run of the game — 60 yards — set up his first two TD, a 2-yard run in the first quarter that gave the home team a 14-3 lead.
.@NDCFB leads visiting Charleston, 14-0, q1 on Idris Lawrence 1-yard TD @NDCFalcons pic.twitter.com/5e4RvWdAnt
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) October 1, 2022
“It’s not just (Lawrence). I think all the backs played well,” said Riegler. “It’s a blessing to be able to block for this running back group.”
The Falcons had 452 yards of total offense, including 279 on the ground. Defensively, they forced four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumble recoveries — and had 4.5 sacks.
Charleston scored on a Javonte Howard TD pass late in the first quarter to make it a 14-10 game but after that it was all Falcons.
TD @NDCFB on first play of q2, Brimm 27 yards to Perkins to extend lead over Charleston to 21-10. @NDCFalcons pic.twitter.com/nuFH9INrWE
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) October 1, 2022
In the second quarter, quarterback Chris Brimm (11 of 20 passing for 153 yards) threw a 27-yard TD to tight end Reece Perkins to make it 21-10, then Krys Riley-Richardson scored on a 10-yard run and it was 28-10.
Krys Riley-Richardson TD run and @NDCFB leads Charleston 28-10 late q2 @NDCFalcons pic.twitter.com/2q4T4VpC3Y
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) October 1, 2022
It stayed that way until halftime. In the third quarter, Lawrence scored his second TD of the game on a 17-yard run and it was 35-10. Brimm added another TD pass and reserve running back Robert Singleton scored a TD on a 1-yard run.
The Falcons’ offense has showed gradual improvement each week following the season-opening loss at Ashland, where it managed just two touchdowns.
In consecutive weeks, NDC has scored 27, 34, 48 and 49 points during its four-game winning streak. The Falcons’ three defensive touchdowns lead the nation in Division II. Sharp’s 99-yard kickoff return for a TD makes for a trifecta of scoring this season.
“That’s the sign of a great team,” said Riegler. “Offense plays good, special teams plays good, defense plays good.”
