Instant Reaction | Notre Dame 44 Boston College 0

Any worry about Boston College conjuring up a Notre Dame nightmare on Senior Day died early today.

It might have died when Logan Diggs broke a 51-yard run to start the game. Though they held the Irish to a field goal on that first drive, it only got worse from there. They weren’t going to win on a day when the wind and cold were factors that were as important as anything either team did.

Even if the weather was perfect, they didn’t have much of a shot today. The running game was dominant and so was Benjamin Morrison. It was all good vibes led by good play by the Irish for another Senior Day blowout victory.

- I guess the offensive line took the last game personally because they handled their business all day, opening up huge holes again and again. It’s how they’ll have to play against USC next week as well so getting this kind of performance on a day where passing was going to be challenging was ideal.

There has been a lot of love for Audric Estime this season and he has earned that praise, but that shouldn’t make Diggs an afterthought. This was his third game with over 100-yards rushing and that matches Estime’s total.

They’ve developed into a terrific one-two punch in the backfield and today was Diggs’ day.

- From a numbers perspective, this was a pretty typical Drew Pyne game where he finished with just over 50% completions. That ignores the conditions he was throwing in and him making a few important 3rd down throws to move the chains.

No one is going to expect him to throw for 300 next week against USC. The Irish simply need him to do what he did in this game and convert on some of those 3rd and medium situations.

- Morrison is almost indescribable at this point. Talk about making the leap. He’s now reached another level.

The first couple of picks were fantastic, but the third diving interception was so good because even if the ball wasn’t bobbled in his direction, he was there to make a tackle for loss on the screen.

A freshman All-American nod is all but secured. Another game like this and he won’t be just getting honored as a freshman.

- Boston College’s offense was overmatched up front and just about everywhere. It was a 22% Havoc rate for the Irish on defense and that includes garbage time. They even had that Marist Liufau scoop and score taken off the board or the day would have been even better.

Emmet Morehead threw for over 300-yards in both of his last two starts. He finished with 117 today (5.3 YPA). The snow was a factor, but Notre Dame’s defense was just as big of a factor.

Phil Jurkovec is fortunate he didn’t play today. Things would have been just as bad with him behind center.

- What a great way for Isaiah Foskey to break the all-time Notre Dame sack record with the final play before the half. I can’t think of a better thing to happen for a player in his final home game.

- This season could have gone a lot of ways when the Irish lost their first two or after they dropped that game to Stanford. Players could have checked out and a lot of times that refers to seniors who are looking at what’s next when they know that they don’t have that big carrot dangling in front of them anymore.

That never happened.

There are many players who kept getting better as the season progressed like Morrison, Jordan Botelho, Mitchell Evans, and JD Bertrand. They aren’t just playing for this year or even for the future. They are also playing for the guy who came before them.

Players like Jarrett Patteson played through injury and set the example for all of the younger players in the program. Players who were injured like Bo Bauer and Avery Davis stuck around all year when it would have been easy to stay away. Michael Mayer is going to be a high NFL Draft pick. I don’t even think he wanted to get taken out when this game was already well in hand.

The 2022 season could have been lost. The seniors are a big reason why the program bounced back and now has a legitimate chance to knock off USC on the road next week.

Congratulations to all of them for everything they have accomplished wearing blue and gold. They should be especially proud of what they accomplished this year when it might not have seemed like they had much to play for.

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