A trifecta of area college football programs are hoping for a get-back week.
Notre Dame College, Lake Erie and Case Western Reserve opened their respective seasons with a loss, and want nothing more than to avoid an 0-2 start.
LEC and Case must hit the road on Sept. 10, which makes things more difficult. The Spartans play at Waynesburg in a 1 p.m. start, and LEC is at Kentucky Wesleyan for a night kickoff (8 p.m.).
Meanwhile, NDC — a week after losing its season-opener at Ashland on Sept. 1 — hosts Wheeling at noon on Sept. 10.
Not much went right for the Falcons in the first half of that game, as they trailed, 17-0. It was a much better effort in the second half, and NDC closed to within 17-14 in the fourth quarter before two late touchdowns by the Eagles put the game away.
First-year head coach Garrett Mack’s team still has its goals for a fifth straight Mountain East championship on the table, but the work begins Sept. 10 in each team’s MEC opener. For the Falcons, it’s the first of 10 straight weeks of conference play.
“We didn’t dwell on anything. We just worked to get better,” said Mack about this week’s practices following the Ashland loss. “That’s all you can do. We made mistakes, we learned from mistakes, we moved on. Our guys are hungry, and we realize what needs to be done.”
The loss at Ashland was coupled with another loss leading up to that game as NDC’s No. 1 wide receiver Davis Paterson (39 catches, 629 yards, five TDs in 2021) injured his collarbone during practice. Mack isn’t sure if Patterson will return to play this fall. So he’s put it on others to step up in his absence.
“Losing a guy game week, it’s about the chemistry with Chris,” said Mack. “Do we have that guy that can be the alpha and take over?”
Tight end Reece Perkins might be that receiver. Against Ashland, he had four catches for 79 yards, including a 45-yard TD.
LEC is hoping to even its mark at 1-1 after losing at home to Hillsdale, 38-31. It was a game the Storm led, 31-21, in the fourth quarter.
There were encouraging signs offensively, starting with QB Gerald Gardner. He completed 29 of 38 for 343 yards and two TDs.
Three receivers were productive, starting with Marcus Brown (6 catches, 102 yards, TD). Peyton Brown chipped in with seven catches for 97 yards and a TD, and Nate Dantley added six for 78.
Running back and converted linebacker Raphael Jones Jr. paced the ground attack with 102 yards on 22 carries and two TDs.
Case wasn’t able to get much offense going against a talented Johns Hopkins squad that ranks in the top 10 in Division III. Four-year QB Drew Saxton was just 13 of 25 for 97 yards before giving way to Mentor grad Ian Kipp, who impressed with two touchdowns — a 25-yard run and 2-yard pass.
John Carroll is off this week. The Blue Streaks host crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace on Sept. 17.
Wheeling at NDC
When: Noon, Sept. 10
Where: Mueller Field
Records: Wheeling 1-0, NDC 0-1
Case at Waynesburg
When: 1 p.m., Sept. 10
Where: John F. Wiley Stadium
Records: Case 0-1, Waynesburg 1-0
Lake Erie at Kentucky Wesleyan
When: 8 p.m., Sept. 10
Where: Steele Stadium
Records: LEC 0-1, Kentucky Wesleyan 0-1