2023 NDFB at NC State Full Book
The University of Notre Dame football team improved to 3-0 in 2023 with its first road-game victory of the season at NC State 38-17 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday afternoon.
The game was delayed by weather and lightning for close to two hours with the Irish holding a 3-0 lead. The first play once the game was resumed was an 80-yard touchdown run by Audric Estimé to put Notre Dame ahead to stay. NC State cut the lead to seven points in the third quarter, but the Irish defense stepped up with three interceptions and the Irish offense capitalized on the mistakes with three straight touchdowns to put the game away.
Estimé led the Irish rushing attack with a career-high-matching 134 yards on 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Sam Hartman posted another great passing performance, finishing 15 of 24 for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes ended up in the hands of sophomore tight end Holden Staes on 35 and 40-yard plays.
The Irish defense, which broke up eight passes in the game, was led by Thomas Harper with seven tackles. Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts and DJ Brown all intercepted passes as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Each team started the game with two three-and-outs respectively, including the Irish giving up their first sack of the season on the game’s third play.
On Notre Dame’s third drive, Jadarian Price provided a spark to the offense with three carries for 23 yards. The Irish would try a flea-flicker play which led to an intentional grounding call to push the Irish out of scoring position. Hartman found Estimé on third-and-long to get the Irish to the NC State 37-yard line.
Spencer Shrader entered and calmly set a Notre Dame record with a 54-yard field goal to start the game’s scoring. The 54-yard boot broke Kyle Brindza (2013) and Dave Reeves (1976) 53-yard efforts as the previous program bests.
NC State earned one first down on their next drive, but the Irish defense forced another punt a few plays later.
It was at that point that an impending storm system forced both teams to the locker rooms for a weather delay that began at 12:41 p.m. ET and ran until 2:35 p.m. It marked the second consecutive time that Notre Dame experienced a weather delay at NC State, going back to a 30-minute delay after halftime of the 2016 game with the Wolfpack.
On the first snap after the teams returned to the field, Estimé burst through a huge hole on the right side of the offensive line, cut up the field and got behind a Jayden Thomas block. The Irish running back then split two NC State defenders and rumbled 80 yards for the touchdown to give Notre Dame a 10-0 lead.
The two teams traded possessions, which included Benjamin Morrison’s first interception of the season. But Morrison would make a mistake late in the second quarter with an unsportsmanlike penalty after the whistle. Just one play later, NC State would get 15 more yards via penalty on an illegal hands to the face whistle.
Yet another Irish penalty, this one defensive holding provided the Wolfpack the ball at the seven-yard line. Two plays later, an NC State touchdown pass would mark the first opposing team touchdown of the season.
The Irish answered back and quickly before halftime. On second down, Hartman stayed in the pocket, then moved to his right and found a wide open Chris Tyree behind the NC State defense. Tyree carried the ball all the way down to the 13-yard line for a 65-yard reception.
One play later Hartman found Jaden Greathouse in the back of the end zone to give the Irish a 17-7 lead at halftime. Notre Dame’s final drive of the half lasted just 40 seconds.
NC State received the ball to start the second half and slowly moved down the field, converting three straight third-and-short plays. They moved into Notre Dame territory for yet another third-and-one but a false start, then a pass break up from Ramon Henderson forced a punt from the Irish 49-yard line.
The Irish offense was unable to move the ball on their next possession. NC State took over and was given more yardage from a Notre Dame penalty, this time a roughing the passer penalty. Notre Dame’s defense stepped up to force a field goal, which NC State converted from 49 yards and cut the Irish lead to one touchdown at 17-10.
Notre Dame’s quick-strike offense didn’t take long. Hartman connected with Staes on two long pass plays during a three-play drive with the last a 40-yard touchdown catch and run to give the Irish a 24-10 lead.
NC State came back with their own big play, a 38-yard pass down the right sideline to set themselves up in the red zone. Another 17-yard toss gave them the ball at the one-yard line and Brennan Armstrong dove in on a short run to cut the lead back to seven points with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
The Wolfpack then came up with their biggest play of the game. On second down, Hartman dropped back to pass, stepped up in the pocket and was hit from behind. He fumbled on the play and NC State recovered at the Notre Dame 17-yard line.
NC State would not score, however. The Irish defense stepped up, surrendered just six yards on the drive and the Wolfpack missed the field goal to keep the lead at seven points.
The Irish offense could not take advantage on its next drive, but the defense would not wait long to give them the ball back. Xavier Watts picked off his first career pass to give the Irish the ball at the NC State 33-yard line. Staes set up the Irish with a 12-yard reception, then on third and short Hartman found Greensboro, NC, native Davis Sherwood leaking out of the backfield for his first career touchdown reception. The 10-yard pass put the Irish up 31-17.
Yet another Irish interception, this one from DJ Brown, set the Irish up again at the Wolfpack 16-yard line. Three plays later, Estimé bulled into the end zone for the fifth Irish touchdown of the game.
NC State turned the ball over on downs and the Irish would end up posting their third-straight touchdown on a 35-yard play action pass from Hartman to Staes.
The Wolfpack tacked on a meaningless touchdown on their final drive to make the final score 45-24.