Notre Dame was able to revamp their performance after another sluggish first quarter as the Irish ended out on top 31-13.
Photo By The Irish Tribune
ATLANTA -- Last week against Stanford, Marcus Freeman preached for a fast start and the Irish did not deliver. Once again, a week later, Notre Dame came out flat against Georgia Tech and found themselves in yet another 7-0 deficit.
After being punched in the mouth on all phases of the ball in the first quarter, Notre Dame responded.
Riley Leonard, who had a terrible interception on an overthrow to Beaux Collins, bounced back and played his most completed game of the year. Leonard was able to utilize his legs and showed great accuracy and decision making on run-pass options. Leonard finished the game with 209 passing yards on 20/29 throwing and had two rushing touchdowns, for 51 yards.
Mike Denbrock also displayed a play-calling masterclass as he built Leonard's confidence back up after the first quarter interception and the Irish rolled in the second.
Through the air, Notre Dame found their most success all season. Beaux Collins was able to create separation on slant routes, Jaden Greathouse had a 28-yard gain, and Mitchell Evans made his biggest impact so far with a collection of catches that extended Notre Dame drives.
Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price once again had very solid performances balancing the offensive attack. Love added a rushing touchdown once again, which extended his season-long touchdown streak. Love finished with 36 yards rushing, and Price ended the game as the Irish's leading rusher with 69 yards.
Aneyas Williams is yet another running back that continues to deliver stellar performances. Primarily as the third down running back, Williams is great in pass protection and showed the ability to catch and run on a pivotal third down in the redzone.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish linebacking core stole the show. Georgia Tech came into the game leading the ACC in rushing yards, and the Notre Dame defense only gave up 64 rushing yards.
Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry were the standouts in this one. Bowen's physicality up the middle and in the run-game was enormous in this one. Auberry's ability to make tackles in space and cover sideline-to-sideline makes the Fighting Irish defense tough to beat.
The secondary has been getting a lot of national media attention this week with Benjamin Morrison enduring a season-ending hip injury, but the young cornerbacks shined in this one. Leonard Moore was fantastic in open field tackling and Christian Gray was great in coverage, as well.
The veteran of the group, Xavier Watts, adding to his interception collection, and collected his third interception of the season. His fellow safety Adon Shuler added a pick six at the end of the game as well that aided Notre Dame's effort to boost their style points of this victory.
In the special teams' department, walk-on backup kicker Zac Yoakam went 1/2 from the field, and made his first field goal, banging in a 42-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
Even though the Irish started off slow once again, they did enough to beat the Yellow Jackets in a triumphant fashion.
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