SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame used a big second half to defeat Charleston, 51-34, to win the Spring 2021 MEC Football title at Mueller Field. 

Notre Dame raced out to an early 10-0 lead, but Charleston battled back to tie the game at 10-10 late in the second quarter. NDC's Chris Brimm, though, gave the Falcons the lead going into halftime as he connected with Devanaire Conliffe for a 72-yard pass to make it 17-10.

The scoring pace picked up in the third quarter with 44 points between the two teams in the 15 minutes. Charleston scored just 50 seconds into the second half to tie the game, and then Notre Dame took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to promptly take the lead back. 

UC had to settle for a field goal on its next possession, but Notre Dame kept the scoring going with touchdowns -- the next coming on another Brimm to Conliffe connection to move ahead 30-20 with still 10 minutes left in the quarter. The Golden Eagles got a rushing touchdown from Josh Brown to pull to within three. However, NDC again scored a touchdown -- this time a 59-yard rush from Tabyus Taylor. Charleston capped the wild quarter with a final touchdown as Guy Myers hit a short pass to Marquis McCoy for the TD to make it a 37-34 game going into the final 15 minutes. 

The Falcons came up with the defensive stops it needed, and the offense added two more touchdowns to clinch the title.