SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio (Oct. 19) – The Cardinals were dealt a 51-13 loss at No. 6 Notre Dame College Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game at Mueller Field.

The loss sends Wheeling University to 0-7 overall, 0-6 in the MEC. Meanwhile, the Falcons, ranked No. 6 in the coaches' poll, improve to 7-0 overall, 7-0 in league play this season.

Sophomore quarterback Tucker Strachan (Kensington, Md./Bullis) was 24-of-45 for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan LaFollette (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) led all players with eight receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt-junior wide receiver Jaquaun Davidson (Duquesne, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) finished with four receptions for 68 yards.

Notre Dame scored on the second play of the game to take a 7-0 lead when NDC quarterback Chris Brimm connected with Marvelle Ross on a 58-yard touchdown pass.

The Cardinals went three-and-out on their first possession, but managed to convert a fake punt from their own 30-yard line to keep the drive going. 

Notre Dame was ready when Wheeling was forced to setup to punt again three plays later. The Falcons blocked the punt and took over deep in Cardinal territory. Two plays later NDC took it in on a 13-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Wheeling had an answer on its next possession. The Cardinals went 75 yards on 16 plays and converted on two third downs and two fourth downs in the process. Strachan was faced with a third and goal from the 15-yard line when he found LaFollette in the back of the end zone to make the score 14-7 with three minutes to play in the first quarter.

The Cardinals defense gave the ball right back to the offense. Brimm was intercepted by sophomore corner Aaron Finch (Atlanta, Ga./Langston Hughes) on the first play of the drive near midfield. Despite the momentum, Strachan and the offense were unable to get any points off of the turnover and punted after three plays.

Both teams traded possessions, before Notre Dame backed the Cardinals up to their own goal-line. The Falcons got their second blocked punt of the game and fell on the ball for a touchdown that made the score 21-7 early in the second quarter.

After Notre Dame extended its lead to 28-7, the Cardinals posted their second scoring drive of the afternoon. Strachan and the Cards converted a third down and two more fourth downs to setup first and goal from the NDC two-yard line. The red zone attempt came on the heels of a 47-yard reception by Davidson on a fourth and 12 near midfield.

Sophomore running back Sy Alli IV (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) capped off the drive with a two-yard plunge into the endzone to make the score 28-13 with 2:20 to play until halftime (PAT failed).

Notre Dame rebuilt its lead to 35-13 entering halftime with a 12-play drive right before the second quarter expired.

Wheeling was only able to drive into Falcon territory once in the second half and yielded 17 points to NDC before the game ended at 51-13.

Sophomore safety Max Baker (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) led the defense with nine tackles (five solo).

The Falcons out-gained the Cardinals 409 to 208 in the contest, with a 277 to 47 advantage in rushing yards. Sophomore Cam'Ron McClain (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) led Wheeling with 44 yards on 15 carries.

Notre Dame running back Jaleel McLaughlin, the leading rushing in Division II, finished with 172 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.

Wheeling will return home to Bishop Schmitt Field on Saturday, October 26 to take on Frostburg State (6-1, 6-1 MEC) at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Wheeling was 6-of-8 on fourth down conversions … the team was 4-of-21 on third down tries … the Cardinals held possession for 38 minutes, 18 seconds ... the team entered the week last in the MEC in time of possession … Wheeling ran 85 plays, compared to the 58 by the Falcons … Aaron Finch has an interception in consecutive games … Notre Dame is ranked No. 7 in the most recent D2football.com poll and is the only remaining unbeaten team in the MEC.