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GLENVILLE -- Brody Layman's 20-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half proved to be the game-winning points for host Glenville State here Saturday afternoon inside Morris Stadium as the Pioneers stunned Notre Dame, 24-21, in the Mountain East Conference opener for both programs.
Head coach Mike Kellar's team survived a trio of interceptions on their first three drives to not only score the lone touchdown of the opening quarter, but also take a 24-6 lead into halftime.
Seth Arnold, who had a game-high 14 total tackles which included a sack, forced a fumble that teammate Joshua Carr recovered. That eventually led to tight end David Livingston's 2-yard touchdown reception from Anthony Garrett, who went 15 of 33 for 185 yards, for a 7-0 lead with 3:22 left in the first.
Cameron Shirkey's 29-yard field goal got the Falcons (1-1, 0-1) on the board early in the second, but the Pioneers answered with a Saeed Galloway 4-yard TD burst.
On Notre Dame's next possession, Jamir Diaz had a strip sack and Tank Grant was in the right place at the right time for a 20-yard scoop-and-score. Layman's PAT put NDC in a 21-3 hole. The GSU defense once again held in the red zone as the Falcons had to settle for a 23-yard Shirkey field goal with 2:05 remaining in the half.
A Hayden Moore interception late in the half helped the G-men (2-0, 1-0) go into the break up 24-6. Garrett connected with running back Alfred Menjor for 10 yards and then hit Orion Bonner on a 26-yard completion to setup the Layman field goal. He actually missed the 24-yard try, but the Falcons were called for being offsides.
The only points of the second half came on a pair of James Faulkner touchdowns grabs from Deshawn Evans. He had a 10-yarder late in the third and a 26-yarder at 13:09 of the fourth.
"We physically did well against a really physical team," noted coach Kellar. "We have to play better to keep winning though."
Idris Lawrence finished with game-highs of 21 rushes for 108 yards in the setback. Faulkner (5-58), Andre Allen Jr. (4-67) and Murphy Solomon (4-46) led NDC in receiving.
Menjor toted 18 times for 75 yards. Bonner (4-70) and Zion Barnette (5-63) were Garrett's top targets.
Max Boyd also added a sack and a forced fumble for Glenville State, which plays at 6 p.m. next Saturday at West Virginia State.