Coming off its first bye week since the 2002 season, UVa-Wise hosts Notre Dame College for Senior Day 2018 in a 12 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

The Falcons enter No. 13 in the latest AFCA Coaches' Poll and having already clinched the Mountain East Conference crown. Notre Dame is led by the league's top rushing attack and one of the nation's elite running backs in freshman Jaleel McLaughlin. The 5-foot-9, 173-pounder leads the MEC with 1,612 yards which is more than 450 yards than the next closest back. A week ago, McLaughlin carried the ball 36 times for 185 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in a 17-10 win over Charleston.

In addition to being able to run the ball, Notre Dame has shown the ability to stop the run as well. The Falcons lead the league in rush defense allowing just 2.2 yards per carry and 72 yards per game. A big reason for the success has been the team's pass rush. Notre Dame leads the league in sacks with 28 and has tallied seven last week. 

UVa-Wise has seen an increase in targets to various receivers as the season has progressed. Over the last two games, sophomore Chris Thaxton has caught 11 passes for 92 after having just 10 receptions over the course of the rest of the season. Thaxton is one of seven Cavs who caught a pass at Charleston as part of a 20-for-31 passing day for signal caller Tanner Bernard.

Senior linebacker Donavan Montague is coming off a career-high 14 tackles and leads a defense that ranks second in the MEC in total defense allowing opponents just 283.8 yards per game. Montague's 11.5 tackles for loss leads the team and ranks fifth in the league in that category. Freshman Shavonta Timothy has also played a big role on the defense as the lineman leads the unit with 5.5 sacks. Overall, the Cavs have posted 22 sacks while having allowed just 18 this season.

An area to watch could be the punting game. Notre Dame junior Marvelle Ross has already returned three punts for touchdowns and is averaging 18 yards per return. UVa-Wise ranks fourth in the league in net punting at 34.6 yards per punt. Trevor Owens is averaging 39.7 yards per punt and has already boomed the two longest punts in league history, including an 81-yarder this season.

Next week, UVa-Wise will wrap up the regular season on the road at Shepherd University while Notre Dame will look to solidify playoff position with a non-conference tilt at Seton Hill University (Pa.).