Notre Dame started off slow, but returned to form and defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 35-14 to celebrate Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- All things were pointing Notre Dame's direction from the opening kickoff, as former Notre Dame standout Chris Tyree muffed the kickoff and Max Hurleman recovered for the Irish.
A couple plays later, Jeremiyah Love cashed in for Notre Dame to jump out to a 7-0 lead. However, the Irish then stalled for the remaining minutes of the first quarter.
The Notre Dame defense proved to be a constant as they shutout the Cavaliers in the first half and tallied five total turnovers.
Al Golden continues to have his unit dial up the pressure as the Notre Dame defense intercepted three of Anthony Colandrea's first half throws. Adon Shuler, Leonard Moore, and Xavier Watts each recorded an interception. Xavier Watts also jumped on a fumble from Virginia running back Kobe Pace.
As Notre Dame rolled into the second half, the biggest impact that arose from this game were the potential injuries suffered by the Fighting Irish.
Jaden Greathouse endured a shoulder injury; Leonard Moore briefly exited the game holding the back of his neck but returned later on.
As the Irish have already faced three season-ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball, in addition to Howard Cross III missing this week's game with an ankle injury, the Fighting Irish defensive depth chart is already spread thin.
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On the offensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish were rather stagnant, and simply benefitted off the great field position provided by the Notre Dame defense.
Riley Leonard went 22/33 for 214 yards, three touchdowns, but did throw an interception. He continues to display an inability to start games out hot and needs a quarter long buffer before able to read the opposing defense.
The biggest detriment for the Notre Dame offense were costly penalties. Pat Coogan had his worst game of the season, as he had two holding penalties and an illegal hands to the face flag that negated a 78-yard passing touchdown to Jayden Harrison.
Harrison had his biggest game for the Fighting Irish, after he filled in for an injured Greathouse. Harrison ended the game as Notre Dame's leading receiver totaling 41 yards and a touchdown.
Another penalty that negated an electric touchdown was the illegal formation call on a fake punt fumblerooski to Jordan Faison; however, this flag seemed to ultimately wake up the Fighting Irish and led to a late second quarter scoring barrage.
The biggest explosive play of the day came from the legs of Jeremiyah Love who broke a 76-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Love continued his every game touchdown streak to 10 games and ended this one with two touchdowns and 137 yards on the ground. He did receive medical attention in the fourth quarter after he gingerly came off the field but returned a couple snaps later.
Ultimately, even ten games into the regular season, the Fighting Irish offense is still a work in progress, and this type of performance against a playoff caliber team would not suffice.
As the Irish gear up for a game in which every possession matters against an impressive Army defense, the Notre Dame needs to elevate their effort and clean up the mistakes.
Another facet that Notre Dame needs to figure out is the kicking department. Mitch Jeter has returned for the PATs, but the Fighting Irish have platooned Zac Yoakam and Marcello Diomede for the field goals. The platoon went 0/2 today, and when the Fighting Irish desperately need points later in the year, they need a reliable option. Currently, there is not one in sight.
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