The University of Notre Dame football team (3-1) defeated Miami (OH) (0-3) 28-3 on a warm and sunny late fall day at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish defense stifled the RedHawk attack all day, holding Miami to just 229 total yards and two-of-12 on third down.
Notre Dame led 14-3 at halftime, then added two more scores in the second half, led by 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns from quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard also connected with Beaux Collins on a 38-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Freshman defensive end Boubacar Traore highlighted the Irish defensive effort. In his first career start, Traore tied for the team lead with five tackles, a career-best two sacks, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame earned a defensive stop on Miami’s first possession, but Jordan Faison, in his first game back from an ankle injury, muffed his reception of the punt at the Notre Dame 26-yard line. The RedHawks moved the ball to the five-yard line, but Christian Gray jumped a slant route, popped the ball up in the air and Junior Tuihalamaka made a diving catch for his first career interception at the four.
The Irish did not move the ball on their next possession, but James Rendell flipped the field with a career-best 53-yard punt. Miami earned two first downs on their next drive before the Irish defense stepped up to end another drive. On third and two at the Irish 32-yard line, Miami attempted a quick swing pass that was swallowed up for a four-yard loss by Tuihalamaka. The RedHawks called a timeout to draw up play, but Adon Shuler knocked away a fourth-down pass to give the Irish the ball back.
On the first play on the drive, Leonard looked deep to Mitchell Evans who drew a 15-yard pass interference. Then Jadarian Price burst left for 14 yards to the Miami 35-yard line. The drive would stall there, however, after two incomplete passes and a holding call. Mitch Jeter entered the game to attempt a 51-yard field goal but the snap was low and mishandled. Jeter picked up the ball, rolled right and threw it away to save Notre Dame 20-30 yards of field position.
That field position would be key as Miami put together a 10-play drive down to the Irish five-yard line before the Irish defense would force them off the field. Benjamin Morrison perfectly defended two fade routes on first and third down, while Jordan Clark made a key open field tackle on second down. Miami’s 26-yard field goal was true…