It wasn’t the prettiest win for Notre Dame this season — but a win is a win is still a thing. The Irish overcame a slow start to a fast game to take down the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 31-13.
Notre Dame started the game with a three and out, and then on its very next possession, Riley Leonard threw an interception on a ball intended for Beaux Collins. It’s fair to say that Leonard overthrew the ball — and Collins also slowed down quite a bit. At any rate, Georgia Tech took that momentum and put together a 13 play 71 yard drive that ended with a 1 yard touchdown run by Jamal Haynes to take an early 7-0 lead.
Notre Dame responded quite well with a long 75 yard drive of their own that took 14 plays. Riley Leonard slammed it in from one yard out to tie the game at 7 a piece. The Irish defense forced a quick 3 and out, to get the ball back on their own 32. The Irish put together 5 quick plays, with the last one ending in a 12 yard touchdown run from Riley Leonard.
The Yellow Jackets went back to work on their next possession and into field goal range as the first half was coming to a close. Georgia Tech really shot themselves in the foot toward the end of the drive, and then it really got bad as they muffed the snap and hold on the field goal attempt to turn it over on downs to Notre Dame.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Irish went into the half up 14-7 but it still didn’t feel like the Irish were in control of the game.
The Irish defense really played well for most of the day, and on the first drive of the second half, they forced a very quick three and out to Georgia Tech who really was struggling to move the ball on the ground.
Notre Dame got right back to work on offense and moved the ball downfield to set up a one yard touchdown run from Jeremiyah Love to make it 21-7. Early in the 4th quarter, the Yellow Jackets found themselves in position to kick another field goal, but Bryce Young denied them the points by blocking the kick.
With Georgia Tech trying desperately to drive down the field, Xavier Watts intercepted Zach Pyron to set Notre Dame up for another drive. Once again, the Irish drove the ball down the field, and we saw Jeremiyah Love run in a smooth 28 yard touchdown, but the referees saw Anthonie Knapp hold on the play and the score was negated. The Irish eventually settled on a 42 yard field goal by backup kicker Zac Yoakam to make the game 24-7.
The Irish already converted on a fake punt earlier in the game, and late in the 4th quarter they used a fake field goal with Tyler Buchner as the holder and runner to pick up a first down. The drive ultimately ended in a missed field goal attempt from Yoakam, but on the first play of the ensuing Yellow Jackets drive, Adon Shuler intercepted a pass and took it 36 yards to paydirt to put the Irish up 31-7.
The Irish allowed a late touchdown drive to Georgia Tech with just 23 seconds left in the game, but denied the two points conversion to make the game final 31-13. It was a slow-moving but fast paced game (if that makes any sense) and the Irish did enough to leave Atlanta with the 18 point win.
More to come on OFD.
