Box Score (PDF) | Notre Dame Postgame Notes | Brian Kelly Post-Game Press Conference Transcript
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 6/6/8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1) played a nearly flawless first half of football, jumping out to a 45-0 lead after the opening 30 minutes. The Irish went on to win by a final score of 55-0.
With its 10th win of the season, the Irish have now recorded 10 or more wins in five straight seasons for the first time in program history. It was also the fifth-largest shutout in modern history for the Irish.
Coan was masterful from the quarterback position, going 15-for-20 for 285 yards and two touchdowns in just over a half of playing time. Kyren Williams finished with 120 all-purpose yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Logan Diggs added two touchdowns, one on the ground and one receiving.
Notre Dame’s defense continued its incredible form, scoring two defensive touchdowns and stifling the Georgia Tech offense. Jack Kiser recorded a pick-six in the first quarter and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa scooped up a fumble forced by Isaiah Foskey and returned it 70-yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
The Irish got off to a great start to open the game, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes. Chris Tyree started by returning a kick to midfield before Jonathan converted a 41-yard field goal to put Notre Dame up 3-0.
On Georgia Tech’s first possession Isaiah Foskey got home with the pass rush, forcing the Yellow Jacket quarterback to hurry his throw, which was picked off by Jack Kiser and returned 43 yards for a touchdown, his second defensive touchdown of the season.
The Notre Dame defense forced a three-and-out on Georgia Tech’s next drive to give the ball back to the offense. The Irish marched down the field with a nine play, 65-yard drive, capped off by an impressive nine-yard touchdown run from Williams to push the lead to 17-0 with just under five minutes left in the first quarter.
Another stop by the defense led to a quick score from the offense just before the end of the first quarter. Coan connected on a 52-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Mayer, the longest reception of his illustrious career, to make the score 24-0.
The Irish put up points on its fourth straight possession, scoring another touchdown, this time on a five-yard plunge from Diggs to push the lead to 31-0.
Notre Dame wasn’t done scoring, as the hosts tacked on two more touchdowns before the break to extend the lead to 45-0 at the halftime break. Diggs scored his second touchdown of the day and the first receiving touchdown of his career with a 20-yard catch from Coan. Then Williams punched it in from a yard out to complete the incredible performance over the opening 30 minutes of play.
In the first half, Notre Dame didn’t record a single punt in the first half, scoring six touchdowns and a field goal.
The Irish added 10 points in the third quarter, highlighted by the second defensive touchdown of the day. Isaiah Foskey recorded a strip sack and Tagovailoa-Amosa scooped up the fumble and took it 70 yards for the touchdown to make it a 55-0 game.
The Irish close out the regular season with a trip to Palo Alto, California, to take on Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 27. The game’s time and broadcast network have not been announced.
—ND—
