Box Score (PDF) | Notre Dame Postgame Notes | Brian Kelly Post-Game Press Conference Transcript
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 12/10 Fighting Irish had its best defensive performance of the season in the 27-13 win over Purdue Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium. With the win, Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Brian Kelly tied Knute Rockne for most win all-time at Notre Dame (105ˆ ).
Avery Davis had a career day, hauling in five catches for a career-high 120 yards, including a career-long reception of 62 yards for a touchdown.
JD Bertrand continued his prolific start to the season with his third straight double-digit tackle game. Bertrand finished with 12 tackles on the day, which tied a career high. Safety Kyle Hamilton was also all over the field and tied a career high with 10 tackles and hauled in his third interception of the season.
Purdue managed to put points on the board first, making a 34-yard field goal on its opening drive to go on top 3-0.
The Irish scored the game’s first touchdown early in the second quarter when Coan threaded a fourth-and-three pass to Kyren Williams, who took it to the house for a 39-yard touchdown to make the score 7-3.
Notre Dame tacked on three points off a field goal in its next possession, as Jonathan Doerer connected on a 28-yard attempt to push the Irish lead to 10-3 midway through the second quarter.
Just like in the first half, Purdue marched down the field on its first possession of the second half but again the Irish defense held the visitors to a field goal to make the score 10-6.
After narrowly missing on a few deep balls in the first half, Coan Avery Davis over the top for a 62-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession to push the Notre Dame lead to double-digits at 17-6 with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
Purdue responded with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a two-yard touchdown catch from Milton Wright to trim the Notre Dame advantage to 17-13 with 7:08 remaining in the third.
The Irish tacked on three points on their first drive of the fourth quarter, as Doerer capped off an 11-play, 53-yard drive with a 30-yard field goal to push the lead back seven points at 20-13.
The Irish defense came up with a big stand on the next Purdue drive, forcing a three-and-out with Isaiah Foskey and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa collapsing the pocket on third down for a sack that forced the Boilermakers to punt from their own eight-yard line.
Kyren Williams put the game away with a 51-yard rushing touchdown with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter. It was Williams’ first rushing touchdown of the day and put the Irish ahead, 27-13.
Notre Dame travels to Chicago to take on Wisconsin at Soldier Field for its annual Shamrock Series game at noon ET on Saturday, Sept. 15. The game will air on FOX.
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ˆ Includes 20 regular-season wins and two postseason appearances vacated under discretionary NCAA penalty.