The College of Notre Dame soccer group (1-0) put collectively a clutch eight-play, 85-yard drive within the sport’s last six minutes to defeat Texas A&M (0-1) 23-13 at Kyle Subject on Saturday night.
The defensive battle noticed Notre Dame take a seven-point lead within the third quarter on a long term from Jadarian Worth, however the house group fought again to tie the sport early within the fourth quarter. The Irish then discovered their offense with two first down passes, then two first-down runs to soften the clock down into the sport’s last minutes. Jeremiyah Love then burst by means of the fitting facet for a 21-yard game-winning landing run.
The stifling Irish move protection, which held Texas A&M to simply 100 passing yards, shut down the ultimate Aggie drive and Mitch Jeter kicked his third area aim of the night time, a 46-yarder, to seal the victory.
Love completed with 91 yard dashing on 14 makes an attempt, whereas Worth added 44 and beginning quarterback Riley Leonard contributed 63 yards dashing and 158 passing yards. Jack Kiser (eight tackles) and Jordan Bothelho (a career-high six tackles) led the stifling Irish defensive effort that additionally included interceptions from Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Each groups drove for area objectives on their first drives, A&M connecting from 34 yards out, then Mitch Jeter efficiently executing his first area aim in a Notre Dame uniform from 46 yards away. The Irish drive was bolstered by a 3rd down scramble by Leonard for a primary down after which tacked on a 15-yard focusing on penalty in opposition to A&M’s Dalton Brooks.
The groups traded punts on their subsequent two drives, however A&M received the sector place battle and took over at their very own 37-yard line. Eight performs and 41 yards later, the Aggies transformed their second area aim of the sport from 49 yards out to take a 6-3 lead lower than a minute into the second quarter.
Notre Dame picked up two first downs, then punted deep into A&M territory. Adon Shuler picked off an overthrown move on the A&M 41 and returned it 12 yards to the 29. The Irish drove to the eight-yard line however stalled out, bringing out Jeter for a 26-yard area aim and the sport was tied at 6-6 with 8:32 left within the second quarter.
The Irish earned the ball again after a 3rd down sack from Howard Cross III, however in opposition to A&M was in a position to flip the sector with a 62-yard punt that bounced near 25 yards. For a second it appeared Notre Dame had ripped off a giant play with a 46-yard Jadarian Worth run, but it surely was known as again for holding. On the following play, Jeremiyah Love broke off a 29-yard run and the Irish had been in a position to get again management of the sector place once they punted and the ball was downed on the 10-yard line.
With beneath two minutes to play within the half, Texas A&M tried a final minute drive however Xavier Watts picked off a move and the groups entered halftime knotted at 6-6. The primary half-hour, the group had been even in whole yards (ND 139, A&M 127), and mixed for simply three of 12 on third down. The penalty flags had been hurting the guests, nevertheless, as Notre Dame was whistled for seven penalties within the first half for 59 yards.
The Irish obtained the ball to begin the primary half and earned a primary down on a fourth and quick conversion from Leonard. After three extra performs, the Irish discovered themselves in fourth and quick once more, however this time A&M rose as much as cease Leonard simply inches from the primary down marker. The Aggies took over at their very own 49-yard line.
A&M earned one first down into Notre Dame territory however back-to-back tackles from Jordan Botelho and a pleasant third down cease from Shuler compelled Texas A&M into their very own fourth-down strive. A protracted move fell incomplete and Notre Dame took over at their very own 37-yard line.
Notre Dame’s offense was lastly in a position to get one thing collectively on their second drive of the half. Leonrd related with Cooper Flanagan for 16 yards into A&M territory, then one other 11 to Beau Collins. Jadarian Worth took a delayed handoff up the center, lower exterior to his left behind nice downfield blocking and outran the Aggie secondary for a 47-yard landing run.
The Irish protection earned one other cease on the following A&M drive, because the Aggies moved 25 yards however dedicated a false begin penalty on fourth and 5 (trying to transform the fourth-down strive) and punted to the Irish who took over at their very own 20-yard line.
A&M stopped the Irish, took over after a punt and tied the sport with a 65-yard drive capped by a one-yard landing run.
The following drive for the Irish ended with only one first down, however they had been in a position to flip the sector with a punt downed on the 15-yard line. The protection rose as much as maintain A&M to a few and out, however once more, the house group took management of the sector place battle with a 61-yard punt.
The Irish wanted to reply they usually did. Leonard discovered Jaden Greathouse for a key third-down conversion (simply the second of the sport for the Irish) and Collins for a 20-yard back-shoulder throw. Then, the Irish offensive line took over. Leonard gained 11, then Love burst by means of the fitting facet for 18 down into the pink zone and into the two-minute warning.
After that two-minute break, Love burst by means of the fitting facet of the road for a 21-yard landing run.
The protection then ended the sport with a four-and-out with Christian Grey breaking apart the ultimate move try. The Irish earned a number of yards and Jeter sealed the sport with a 46-yard area aim with simply 1:04 remaining.