Clutch Drive Earns Hard-Fought Win At Texas A&M

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 called back for holding. On the next play, Jeremiyah Love broke off a 29-yard run and the Irish were able to get back control of the field position when they punted and the ball was downed at the 10-yard line. 

With under two minutes to play in the half, Texas A&M tried a last minute drive but Xavier Watts picked off a pass and the teams entered halftime knotted at 6-6. The first 30 minutes, the team were even in total yards (ND 139, A&M 127), and combined for just three of 12 on third down. The penalty flags were hurting the visitors, however, as Notre Dame was whistled for seven penalties in the first half for 59 yards. 

The Irish received the ball to start the first half and earned a first down on a fourth and short conversion from Leonard. After three more plays, the Irish found themselves in fourth and short again, but this time A&M rose up to stop Leonard just inches from the first down marker. The Aggies took over at their own 49-yard line. 

A&M earned one first down into Notre Dame territory but back-to-back tackles from Jordan Botelho and a nice third down stop from Shuler forced Texas A&M into their own fourth-down try. A long pass fell incomplete and Notre Dame took over at their own 37-yard line. 

Notre Dame’s offense was finally able to get something together on their second drive of the half. Leonrd connected with Cooper Flanagan for 16 yards into A&M territory, then another 11 to Beau Collins. Jadarian Price took a delayed handoff up the middle, cut outside to his left behind great downfield blocking and outran the Aggie secondary for a 47-yard touchdown run. 

The Irish defense earned another stop on the next A&M drive, as the Aggies moved 25 yards but committed a false start penalty on fourth and five (attempting to convert the fourth-down try) and punted to the Irish who took over at their own 20-yard line. 

A&M stopped the Irish, took over after a punt and tied the game with a 65-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run. 

The next drive for the Irish ended with just one first down, but they were able to flip the field with a punt downed at the 15-yard line. The defense rose up to hold A&M to three and out, but again, the home team took control of the field position battle with a 61-yard punt. 

The Irish needed to answer and they did. Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a key third-down conversion (just the second of the game 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 through the right side for 18 down into the red zone and into the two-minute warning. 

After that two-minute break, Love burst through the right side of the line for a 21-yard touchdown run. 

The defense then ended the game with a four-and-out with Christian Gray breaking up the final pass attempt. The Irish earned a few yards and Jeter sealed the game with a 46-yard field goal with just 30 seconds remaining.