Irish Score 31 Straight Points To Subdue Georgia Tech

The University of Notre Dame football team (6-1) rattled off 31 consecutive points while holding Georgia Tech’s rushing offense to 64 total yards in a 31-14 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The Irish were led on offense by quarterback Riley Leonard, who shook off an early-game interception to complete 20-of-29 passes for 203 yards while rushing for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jeremiyah Love posted 93 total yards and a rushing touchdown while safety Adon Shuler capped the Irish scoring with a 36-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter. 

Shuler’s play provided a late-game highlight for the Irish defense which was led by a career-high nine tackles from sophomore linebacker Drayk Bowen who made plays all over the field. Freshman cornerback Leonard Moore also had seven tackles, a tackle-for-loss and two pass break ups in his second career start. 

Notre Dame moved the ball into Georgia Tech territory on their second possession of the game, but Leonard overthrew a deep route into the Yellow Jacket end zone that was intercepted by the defense and returned out to the 29-yard line. 

Georgia Tech drove into Notre Dame territory down to the Irish four-yard line for a first down. The Yellow Jackets fumbled the ball attempting to power through the line for a score, received a favorable bounce and the running back recovered the ball on the end zone line for the touchdown. 

Notre Dame tied the game on its next drive keyed early in the series by Jeremiyah Love. Love gained 25 yards on three consecutive plays – two runs and a reception – followed by a tight end screen to Mitchell Evans moved the ball deep into GT territory. The Yellow Jackets stepped up to force third down with three yards to go on the 13-yard line. Leonard beat the blitz with a quick pass out in the flat to Aneyas Williams, who fought his way down to the three-yard line. Three plays later, Leonard powered in to tie the game at 7-7. 

The Irish defense quickly put the ball back in the offense’s hands with a three-and-out. The ensuing drive was keyed by Love and Kris Mitchell, who posted back-to-back catch and runs to move the ball to the Georgia Tech 29. Leonard then found Beaux Collins for 11 yards on back-to-back plays to get to the Yellow Jacket 11-yard line and the two-minute warning before halftime. 

On the next play, Leonard kept the ball on an option play to the right and ran untouched into the end zone for his 10th rushing score of the season. On the play, Leonard became just the third Notre Dame quarterback to rush for double digit touchdowns in a season (Brandon Wimbush, 14 in 2017, DeShone Kizer 10 in 2015). 

Georgia Tech did put together a possible scoring drive before halftime and lined up for a 39-yard field goal attempt, but the holder misplayed a high snap and the Irish defense suffocated the kicker for a 16-yard loss, allowing the team to enter halftime with a seven-point lead. 

After the break the Irish defense earned an immediate three-and-out and the offense took advantage. Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for 28 yards to get into Georgia Tech territory, then the Irish ran three consecutive times for two first downs. Collins ran a great slant route to put the ball at the one-yard line and Love finished off the drive, dancing untouched into the end zone to put the Irish up 21-7. 

The Yellow Jackets earned one first down on their next possession, but the Irish defense forced yet another punt, evening pushing the Yellow Jackets back to third-and-20 after two false start penalties. 

Notre Dame would be able to get a couple first downs on their next drive, but the Yellow Jackets eventually forced a punt and looked to gain a bit of momentum with a 60-yard catch and run to the Irish 16-yard line. 

The Irish defense, though, refused to relent. A three-yard rush, then a tackle-for-loss from Jaiden Ausberry and a Rylie Mills sack forced another GT field goal attempt. The sack was just the second allowed by the Yellow Jacket offensive line in 2024. 

Freshman Bryce Young blocked the field goal attempt and Notre Dame remained in the lead by two scores as the teams entered the fourth quarter. 

The Irish defense continued to get stops, but for the time being, the Yellow Jacket defense was matching them. Leonard was stopped short on a fourth down play, but Xavier Watts quickly ended the next Georgia Tech drive with his 10th career interception. 

Notre Dame looked like they were going to be stopped again, but the Irish special teams came to the fore with a reverse fake punt to Love for 27 yards. The Irish eventually saw Zac Yoakam convert his first career field goal, from 42 yards out, to push the Irish up 24-7. 

As Georgia Tech desperately tried to get back into the game late in the fourth quarter, Adon Shuler caught an overthrown pass at the 36-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to record the 31st consecutive point by Notre Dame. 

Georgia Tech would tack on a touchdown with just 23 seconds left against Notre Dame’s back up players to represent the final score of 31-14.