The University of Notre Dame football team (1-0) put together a clutch eight-play, 85-yard drive in the game’s final six minutes to defeat Texas A&M (0-1) 23-13 at Kyle Field on Saturday evening.
The defensive battle saw Notre Dame take a seven-point lead in the third quarter on a long run from Jadarian Price, but the home team fought back to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. The Irish then found their offense with two first down passes, then two first-down runs to melt the clock down into the game’s final minutes. Jeremiyah Love then burst through the right side for a 21-yard game-winning touchdown run.
The stifling Irish pass defense, which held Texas A&M to just 100 passing yards, shut down the final Aggie drive and Mitch Jeter kicked his third field goal of the night, a 46-yarder, to seal the victory.
Love finished with 91 yard rushing on 14 attempts, while Price added 44 and starting quarterback Riley Leonard contributed 63 yards rushing and 158 passing yards. Jack Kiser (eight tackles) and Jordan Bothelho (a career-high six tackles) led the stifling Irish defensive effort that also included interceptions from Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams drove for field goals on their first drives, A&M connecting from 34 yards out, then Mitch Jeter successfully executing his first field goal in a Notre Dame uniform from 46 yards away. The Irish drive was bolstered by a third down scramble by Leonard for a first down and then tacked on a 15-yard targeting penalty against A&M’s Dalton Brooks.
The teams traded punts on their next two drives, but A&M won the field position battle and took over at their own 37-yard line. Eight plays and 41 yards later, the Aggies converted their second field goal of the game from 49 yards out to take a 6-3 lead less 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 pass at the A&M 41 and returned it 12 yards to the 29. The Irish drove to the eight-yard line but stalled out, bringing out Jeter for a 26-yard field goal and the game was tied at 6-6 with 8:32 left in the second quarter.
The Irish earned the ball back after a third down sack from Howard Cross III, but against A&M was able to flip the field with a 62-yard punt that bounced close to 25 yards. For a moment it seemed Notre Dame had ripped off a big play with a 46-yard Jadarian Price run, but it was…