The College of Notre Dame soccer workforce (1-0) put collectively a clutch eight-play, 85-yard drive within the recreation’s remaining six minutes to defeat Texas A&M (0-1) 23-13 at Kyle Area 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 dwelling workforce 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 remaining minutes. Jeremiyah Love then burst via the best facet for a 21-yard game-winning landing run.
The stifling Irish cross protection, which held Texas A&M to simply 100 passing yards, shut down the ultimate Aggie drive and Mitch Jeter kicked his third subject purpose of the night time, a 46-yarder, to seal the victory.
Love completed with 91 yard speeding on 14 makes an attempt, whereas Worth added 44 and beginning quarterback Riley Leonard contributed 63 yards speeding 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 subject targets on their first drives, A&M connecting from 34 yards out, then Mitch Jeter efficiently executing his first subject purpose 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 towards A&M’s Dalton Brooks.
The groups traded punts on their subsequent two drives, however A&M gained the sphere place battle and took over at their very own 37-yard line. Eight performs and 41 yards later, the Aggies transformed their second subject purpose 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 cross 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 subject purpose 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 towards A&M was in a position to flip the sphere 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, however it was referred to as again for holding. On the subsequent play, Jeremiyah Love broke off a 29-yard run and the Irish have been in a position to get again management of the sphere place once they punted and the ball was downed on the 10-yard line.
With below two minutes to play within the half, Texas A&M tried a final minute drive however Xavier Watts picked off a cross and the groups entered halftime knotted at 6-6. The primary half-hour, the workforce have been even in whole yards (ND 139, A&M 127), and mixed for simply three of 12 on third down. The penalty flags have been hurting the guests, nonetheless, as Notre Dame was whistled for seven penalties within the first half for 59 yards.
The Irish obtained the ball to start out 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 pressured Texas A&M into their very own fourth-down attempt. An extended cross 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 linked 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, minimize 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 subsequent 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 attempt) 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 have been in a position to flip the sphere 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 workforce took management of the sphere 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 via the best facet for 18 down into the purple zone and into the two-minute warning.
After that two-minute break, Love burst via the best 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 cross try. The Irish earned a couple of yards and Jeter sealed the sport with a 46-yard subject purpose with simply 1:04 remaining.