The Malone University football team racked up 562 yards of total offense but came up short as Notre Dame College (OH) rolled to a 49-21 victory in an offensive showcase Saturday afternoon in Canton. The visiting Falcons piled up 552 yards of their own as the two squads combined for 1114 total yards in the shootout.
 
Malone got things started on its very first play from scrimmage. Junior halfback Matt Blasiole carried the ball off left tackle, found an opening, and raced down the sideline 75 yards to the endzone virtually untouched as the Pioneers went up 7-0 just 12 seconds into the game.
 
After forcing a Notre Dame punt, the Pioneers took over at their own 3-yard line and promptly marched 93 yards to the to the Falcons' 4-yard line. A 56-yard catch and run from Ashton Dulin highlighted a 8-play drive that saw the Pioneers facing fourth and goal. Electing to forego the field goal try, Malone rolled the dice. Under heavy pressure, quarterback John Iacucci targeted Dulin in the endzone but the pass fell short and Malone turned it over on downs.
 
Using the defensive stop as momentum, the Falcons converted some big plays of their own. A 43-yard hookup between quarterback Malik Grove and wide receiver CJ Germany capped of a 10-play drive as Notre Dame knotted it up at 7-7 with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Following a Pioneer punt, Notre Dame used a 15-play drive that covered 69 yards to take its first lead of the game. Grove hit wideout Emmanuel Smith on an 18-yard strike to put the visitors ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter.
 
Another punt from the Pioneers and another lengthy drive from the Falcons made it a 21-7 contest. A 1-yard touchdown plunge from starting halfback DJ Greene culminated a 12-play 80-yard march.
 
Moments later, however, the Pioneers cut the deficit in half as quarterback John Iacucci found Dulin for a 35-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.
 
On the subsequent possession, junior safety Daniel Tepe intercepted Grove inside the Malone 5-yard line. Unable to gain a first down, though, the Pioneers were forced to punt from their own endzone.With the wind at his back, punter Marcus Moeller outkicked his coverage. Notre Dame return man Marvelle Ross received the punt at his own 41-yard line and outran the Pioneers across the width of the field before cutting it up and sprinting for the score. The PAT was true as the Falcons went ahead 28-14 with 2:49 to go before the half.
 
Still trailing 28-14, Malone forced a turnover on downs on the Falcons' first possession of the second half. The Pioneers proceeded to go 79 yards on 7 plays to again cut the deficit in half. A 24-yard over-the-shoulder grab from Matt Blasiole set Malone up with first and goal at the 3-yard line. True freshman Damon Williams bulldozed his way through the Notre Dame defense for his collegiate touchdown. Moeller's PAT made it 28-21 with 10:06 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Falcons regained the two-score lead just three plays later. On third and short, Grove threaded the needle between two Malone defenders as wide receiver Darius Johnson turned a slant pass into a 59-yard touchdown reception and a 35-21 lead.
 
On the next drive, Malone committed its first turnover of the season when Blasiole coughed up the football at the Notre Dame 45.The Falcons were unable to take advantage of the short field as a 29-yard field goal attempt by Kyle Kaplan was wide right.
 
A Malone miscue gave the visitors another short field. Durimg a 4th-and-15 punt, a mishandled snap resulted in the Falcons taking over at the Malone 42. The Falcons cashed in on the short field this time as Grove found Germany again for a 32-yard touchdown reception that put them up 42-21.
 
Back-to-back-back turnovers on downs and an NDC punt gave Malone the football with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter. Facing a third and short, Iacucci looked to the flats to move the sticks, but Notre Dame defensive back stepped in front of his pass and returned it 52 yards for the pick-six with 4:39 to go. The 49-21 scoreboard reading proved to be the final tally.
 
Game Highlights
-Notre Dame totaled 339 yards rushing on 6.4 yards per carry while Malone finished with 252 rushing yards on 6.0 yards per carry
-Malone threw for 310 yards on 20-of-40 pass attempts…the 310 yards passing and the 562 yards of total offense were the highest totals since a 55-50 win over Lake Erie in October of 2013
-The 40 pass attempts were the most since 2011
-Malone was penalized just two times for six yards
-The Pioneers collected 27 first downs but were 0-for-4 on fourth downs
 
Malone Individual Highlights
 -Iacucci set a career high with 310 yards passing…he is the first Pioneer to throw for 310 yards since 2009
-Matt Blasiole continued his fine season with 161 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving…his 75-yard touchdown run tied a career high
-Ashton Dulin caught eight balls for 171 yards and a score
-Damon Williams totaled 77 yards rushing while receiver Alex Stotts added 61 yards through the air
-JC Pawlyk recorded 12 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss and a half sack
-Keith Williams registered 12 stops while Ryan Weber added 10 tackles of his own
 
Notre Dame Individual Highlights
-Grove finished 14-of-22 passing for 213 yards and four scores…he added 94 yards on the ground
-Running backs DJ Greene and Brian Walker both reached the century mark, rushing for 114 and 109 yards respectively
-Defensive back Onslow Williams led the Falcons with 12 tackles
 
Next Week
Malone will travel to Moon Township, PA to take on Division I FCS opponent Robert Morris next Saturday, September 24th at 7:00 pm.