Box Score (PDF) | Notre Dame Postgame Notes | Louisville Postgame Notes | Brian Kelly Post-Game Press Conference
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The fourth-ranked Notre Dame football team battled the University of Louisville Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium and prevailed with a 12-7 victory to remain undefeated (4-0, 3-0 ACC) on the season.
The Irish ran the ball well, finishing the afternoon with 232 yards on 49 carries. Sophomore Kyren Williams paced the Irish backfield with 127 yards on 25 carries, marking his third 100-yard rushing effort on the season.
Graduate Student Ian Book had an impressive third-quarter 13-yard rushing touchdown to regain the lead on his way to amassing 47 yards on the ground. Book also accumulated 106 passing yards, completing 11-of-19 attempts.
The Irish defense limited the Cardinals to just 12 yards in the first quarter and off the scoreboard until 7:37 in the third. Notre Dame dominated the time of possession in the first half, maintaining the football for 21:57 compared to Louisville’s 8:03.
In the second half, Louisville took its first and only lead of the game after taking the opening drive 83 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinals converted a fourth and two from midfield on the drive and Marshon Ford caught the one-yard pass for the touchdown to cap the drive.
Notre Dame immediately responded with a 66-yard drive, spanning 3:49, capped by a 13-yard touchdown run from Book which put the Irish back out front 12-7 (the two-point conversion attempt failed).
The Irish will be back in action next weekend when they hit the road for the first time in 2020. Notre Dame will face Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET) at Heinz Field. The game will air on ABC.
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