EASTON — Notre Dame has put up some gaudy offensive numbers this season.

They didn’t do anything to hurt their stats Friday night.

Crusader quarterback Matt Bodnar threw for 431 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to an impressive 52-0 victory over visiting Palmerton.

Bodnar, who completed 30 of 39 passes, connected with 11 different receivers.

“The bottom line is, their team speed was very impressive,” said Blue Bomber head coach Chris Walkowiak. “They’re as good as advertised. Turning the ball over, we had three turnovers, that doesn’t help. It gives them extra possessions there. They have a dynamic team.

“They have go-to guys, and then when you focus on go-to guys and double-team their better guys, then they have other guys open.”

Palmerton’s go-to guy this season has been Jameson Trainer, and the senior nearly helped his team get out to an early lead against Notre Dame.

After the Blue Bombers recovered a loose ball on the opening kickoff, Trainer tossed a screen pass to Cale Young for a 16-yard gain. A run by Trainer put Palmerton in the red zone, but a throw to the end zone didn’t hit the target and turned the ball over on downs to the Crusaders.

Bodnar quickly went to work, hitting Nyechay Lawless for 12 yards and Jonathan Striba for 31 to set up a 19-yard Striba touchdown run.

Trainer tossed a 25-yard pass to Aidan Ortiz on the Bombers’ next possession to get into enemy territory, and eventually moved to the Notre Dame 36, but an interception stopped the drive and set the Crusader offense in motion again.

Bodnar completed seven attempts during a 51-yard march that ended with Lawless hauling in an 8-yard scoring catch to make it 14-0.

“The opening kickoff was nice,” said Walkowiak. “We got the ball and tried to get some momentum. We got to the red zone and took a shot on fourth down, and just missed it.

“I’m proud of our kids and their effort and what they were doing. We were just out-manned at times with their speed. You could see the difference in team speed.”

That speed was on display in the second quarter as Notre Dame scored four more times, including three touchdowns and a field goal.

Bodnar kept getting the ball in his receivers’ hands, and they would often gain extra yardage after the catch.

Two throws to Carmine Diaz led to an Aaron Gordon 2-yard burst into the end zone, while Diaz also got into the scoring column with a 37-yard touchdown reception to push the margin to 28-0 midway through the second frame.

Bodnar, who totaled 333 of his passing yards in the opening half, threw his third touchdown of the game — a 41-yarder to Nino Morici — and found four different receivers during a late drive that resulted in a Mark Talpas 32-yard field goal and a 38-0 advantage that brought the mercy rule into effect in the second half.

The Crusaders tacked on two more scores in the third quarter, but the game came to an abrupt end with 11:20 left on the clock when Palmerton’s Young was injured on a running play and had to be taken off the field by ambulance.

“Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with Cale,” said Walkowiak. (Notre Dame) Coach (Phil) Stambaugh and I, we both decided it was best to move on (from playing the rest of the game). There was something more important to focus on.”

RECORDS … Notre Dame is now 8-1 and has scored at least 40 points in seven of its game. Palmerton dropped to 2-7 and was shut out for the first time since Sept. 28, 2018. The Bombers had scored in 67 consecutive games.

STAT LINE … Young led the Bombers offensively with 86 yards rushing. Diaz was the main receiver for the Crusaders with seven catches for 108 yards.

UP NEXT … Notre Dame faces winless Wilson on Friday, while Palmerton will close its season with a home game against Catasauqua.

No. Dame 52, Palmerton 0

Palmerton 0 0 0 0 - 0

Notre Dame 14 24 14 0 - 52

ND - Striba 19 run (Talpas kick)

ND - Lawless 8 pass from Bodnar (Talpas kick)

ND - Gordon 2 run (Talpas kick)

ND - Diaz 37 pass from Bodnar (Talpas kick)

ND - N. Morici 41 pass from Bodnar (Talpas kick)

ND - Talpas 32 FG

ND - Striba 70 pass from Bodnar (Talpas kick)

ND - Gordon 20 run (Talpas kick)