Notre Dame With Wire-To-Wire Win Over Purdue, 66-7
Nobody had a tougher week in the college football world than Marcus Freeman, Riley Leonard and Notre Dame. While all the pain caused from the loss to NIU won’t wash away overnight, the Irish took the first step in writing its wrong with a 66-7 win over Purdue.
“This who we are … we just can’t beat ourselves,” Leonard said.
With the Irish up 14 points in the second, they had a prime opportunity to put a stranglehold on the Boilermakers.
Enter Riley Leonard.
It seemed the transfer signal caller heard all the calls for his demise and turned it into pure rage. That fury was evident as he steamrolled down the field, breaking two tackles and galloping into the endzone for a 34-yard statement touchdown.
21-0, Irish. Ballgame.
The fun didn’t stop there for Notre Dame though, as Leonard followed up his vicious run with one of his better drives in the blue and gold. Leonard converted two big third-downs with an 11-yard scramble and a 19-yard pass to Mithcell Evans to set the Irish up in the red zone. The quarterback finished off yet another drive with his legs, stiff-arming a Boilermaker defender en route to his third rushing touchdown of the first half.
The Irish still didn’t seem content with a 28-0 lead. Rylie Mills forced a hard pressure on Purdue quarterback Hudson Card, popping the ball out and into the hands of Boubacar Traore, who had plenty of green grass ahead for the pick-six.
Even at the tail-end of the first half when Notre Dame was trying to run out the clock they found paydirt. Jadarian Price sliced through the Purdue defense for a 70-yard touchdown run.
Notre Dame went to the locker room up 42-0 at the half with 278 yards of rushing. Just about as dominant a performance you can get through 30 minutes.
Riley Leonard became the first FBS signal caller with 100 or more passing and rushing yards, and three or more rushing touchdowns in a first half since Lamar Jackson in 2016.
The second half marked the end of Leonard’s day and the beginning of Steve Angeli’s. The backup quarterback fired his first pass up the seam to Cooper Flanagan for another Irish touchdown. The score marked Notre Dame’s first touchdown through the air on the season.
Purdue finally gained some traction on offense thanks to two Irish defenders colluding after the snap. Card found Kam Brown wide open down the field for a 52-yard gain, and finished the drive off with a five-yard touchdown toss to De’Nylon Morrissette.
Angeli added in his second passing score, flipping an eight-yard toss to Kevin Bauman for his first-career touchdown.
Even Kenny Minchey got a chance to flash, running in a five-yard touchdown to break the 60-point mark.
Flipping back to the first half, the Irish started Saturday’s contest just like they did a week prior — with a touchdown. The only difference? They never took their foot off the gas.
The game plan of getting Leonard more involved was evident from the jump. A quick rollout and scramble moved the chains to midfield. Then Jeremiyah Love did Jeremiyah Love things. The sophomore running back exploded down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown.
“He’s one of the most electric backs I’ve ever played with in my life,” Leonard said.
Love kept things going a few drives later, exploding for a 21-yard gain thanks to a big block from Evans. A couple quick and easy throws got the Irish into the red zone and Leonard finished it off with his legs for a three-yard touchdown run.
The Boilermakers’ offense was on the struggle bus throughout the whole first half. The stifling Irish defense pressured Card all afternoon and swallowed up the run even more. Purdue at one point deep into the first half had negative rushing yards.
Notre Dame will be back in action at home on Sept. 21 against Miami (OH), kickoff at 3:30 p.m.