Irish Win Ugly Over Ball State
A game that was supposed to be an opportunity to get reserves and younger players plenty of time saw the starters play until the very end, but Notre Dame still escaped with a 24-16 win over Ball State in South Bend on Saturday afternoon.
After hitting a 49-yard field goal to bring Ball State within one score, Cardinal kicker Morgan Hagee and his coverage team lined up for an onside kick. The attempt went the ten yards, but right into the hands of Irish captain Drue Tranquill.
Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush ran the ball twice for 10 yards and a first down on game’s final possession to seal the win for the eighth-ranked Irish.
The Irish defense, led by a dominant front seven, was again the strength of the squad against the Cardinals and a big reason they were able to come away with the close win.
Linebacker Te’von Coney had another big game for the Irish, leading the way with 14 total tackles (10 solo) and a sack. Jalen Elliott also had a big day at safety for the Irish, recording seven tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Wimbush threw for 297 yards on 17-for-31 passing, but was picked off three times. Wide receiver Miles Boykin was the offensive standout, reeling in six passes for 119 yards, all in the second half. Jafar Armstrong ran for 66 yards on 13 carries and also caught three passes for 61 yards. Tony Jones Jr. ran for two scores and 61 yards for the Irish.
The Ball State offense gave it their all led by quarterback Riley Neal. Neal threw for 180 yards on 23-for-50 passing and a score. The Cardinal defense also accounted for four sacks and the three picks. James Gilbert led the Cardinals rushing offense 72 yards on 19 carries.
Ball State started the second half strong with two straight first downs, but after an illegal formation penalty stalled the Cardinals’ momentum, Neal came out on the next play and delivered a play-action pass downfield, which was jumped by Elliot for his second interception of the game.
Following the turnover, the Irish took their first drive of the second half 56 yards for a touchdown on just six plays. Wimbush went 3-for-3 on the drive for 44 yards through the air. Boykin caught two passes for 31 yards and Chris Finke caught a 13-yard pass to set up the one-yard touchdown run by Jones Jr. Justin Yoon’s extra point made it 21-6 four minutes into the third quarter.
The Irish defense once again was strong after the scoring drive. Daelin Hayes applied pressure on a third-and-long, forcing Neal out of the pocket which resulted in an incompletion and a three-and-out for the Cardinals.
Wimbush threw his second interception of the game on the second play of the drive.
Ball State started its next drive at its 21-yard line and once again the Irish defense forced a three-and-out after a third down incompletion.
Wimbush and the Irish offense tried to bounce back after the interception, but after a quick 23-yard catch by Boykin from Wimbush, three straight plays that resulted in a loss forced a Tyler Newsome punt.
The Notre Dame defense forced yet again another three-and-out.
Wimbush was able to complete an 18-yard completion to Alize Mack on 3rd and 10, which was followed by a screen pass to Boykin who gained 19 yards. The drive stalled after Wimbush was sacked by Jeremiah Jackson. The Irish were still able to extend the lead to 24-6 with a 46-yard field goal by Yoon.
Ball State countered with a 13-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown catch by Nolan Given from Neal. Ball State brought in change-of-pace back Malik Dunner who ran five times for 23 yards. Caleb Huntley converted a crucial 4th-and-1 with three hard-fought yards inside the red zone to extend the drive. Morgan Hagee hit the extra point to cut the lead to 24-13.
Notre Dame got two straight first downs from a 20-yard catch by Boykin from Wimbush and 10 yards rushing on three straight plays by Jones Jr., but Wimbush threw his third interception of the game on a pass intended for Boykin. Ray Wilborn made the interception for Ball State.
After the Wilborn interception, Ball State took the ball 12 plays for 41 yards to the Notre Dame 28-yard line. Neal and the Cardinal offense converted a third-and-long and a fourth-and-long with an 18-yard catch by Corey Lacanaria and an 11-yard catch by Miller respectively. Ball State was forced to settle for a field goal, but Hagee’s 48-yard attempt sailed wide left.
The Irish were unable to capitalize on the missed field goal and were forced to punt after an incompletion intended for Mack caused a three-and-out.
After some rhythm passing, Ball State was able to put them into field goal range after going 26 yards in eight plays. Hagee hit a 49-yard field goal to cut the lead to a one-score game, 24-16 with 1:30 left in the game.
But Notre Dame survived with Tranquill’s onside kick recovery and Wimbush’s carries for the first down.
The Irish host Vanderbilt next Saturday. The Commodores are 2-0 following blowout wins over Middle Tennessee State and Nevada to start the season.
The game looked like it was going to be a blowout early.
Notre Dame started their first drive from its own 26-yard line and took in 76 yards in five plays. The drive started with a 27-yard Wimbush to Finke connection on a play-action pass. This was followed by a 42-yard run up the middle by Armstrong. Three plays later Armstrong powered it in for a 1-yard touchdown. Yoon hit the PAT to make it 7-0 with 13:06 left to go in the first quarter.
After a quick scoring drive by the Irish, Ball State took its first drive down to the Notre Dame two-yard line. A false start brought them back to the seven-yard line on 3rd and goal. Neal converted three of four third downs on the drive which was crucial on the 18-play drive that ended with a Hagee field goal to make it 7-3 with 6:17 to go in the first quarter. Miller was Neal’s most reliable target early. The big tight end caught three passes for 25 yards on the drive including two crucial third down passes of eight and seven yards.
Notre Dame went three and out and were forced to punt on their next drive. Armstrong started the drive with a five-yard run and then was tackled for a loss of four on the next snap. On 3rd and 7, Wimbush tried to force a ball into double-coverage down the middle of the field to Mack that was almost intercepted. Newsome punted it 43yards and Ball State started their second drive of the game at their own 34-yard line.
The Irish defense bounced back and forced a Ball State three and out. Coney came up with a third-down sack for a loss of six. Snyder’s punt went 42 yards and Finke returned the ball eight yards. Notre Dame started their next drive on their own 37-yard line.
The Notre Dame offense continued to struggle on its third drive going three and out for their second straight drive. Ball State went three-and-out on the ensuing drive.
Notre Dame started their next drive hot after two straight three and outs with an 11 yard rush by Armstrong and an 18 yard completion by Wimbush to Cole Kmet over the middle of the field on back-to-back plays. The Irish got inside the red zone on a 23-yard completion to Chase Claypool from Wimbush on a 4th and 8. Unfortunately, the drive stalled after two straight runs that resulted in negative four yards by Jones Jr, followed by a third down sack by the Cardinal defense. Notre Dame came away scoreless after Yoon missed a 43-yard field goal.
Despite the crucial red zone stand, Ball State was unable to produce anything offensively and again went three and out.
A pair of big completions to Armstrong of 23 yards and 27 yards got the Irish moving, but they were unable to capitalize in the red zone for the second straight drive. Wimbush threw an incompletion on 4th and 8 to turn the ball over on downs.
Elliot registered his first interception of the game on a tipped ball on the ensuing drive.
This time, the Irish offense took advantage of the turnover and scored on the first play of their next drive. Jones Jr. took the ball up the middle and cut it to the left sideline for a 31-yard touchdown run. Yoon’s extra point gave Notre Dame a 14-3 lead with 8:14 left in the half.
The Irish defense turned it up a notch on Ball State’s next drive. Notre Dame’s front seven’s pressure forced a punt after giving up just one first down on a Neal scramble on 3rd down and long.
The Irish offense started their next drive after their scoring drive at its own three-yard line. Jones Jr. started the drive with a tough 18-yard run, but was followed by an interception by Wimbush.
Ball State took over at Notre Dame’s 38-yard line after the turnover. The Irish defense was able to make the stop inside the red zone, but gave up field goal that cut the lead to 14-6 with 2:30 left in the half. Hagee hit his second field goal of the afternoon from 23 yards out. Neal converted two crucial third-downs to set up the field goal. He hit Lacanaria on a 3rd and 8 and also ran for 11 yards on a 3rd and 10.
Following the Ball State field goal, Christian Albright’s sack on first down halted the Irish’s counter drive. Armstrong caught a swing pass for 11 yards on the next play, but the Cardinals pressure eventually forced a 4th and 2. Newsome punted the ball 40 yard after the Irish drained the clock and the half ended with a kneel by Neal.
Armstrong had himself a good half. He accounted for 68 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown and also caught three passes for 61 yards. Jones Jr. also accounted for 46 yards on six carries and a touchdown. Wimbush was shaky in the first half going 8-for-17 for 147 yards and an interception. Coney was all over the field, accounting for nine total tackles, three for a loss and a sack in the first half. Elliot also came up with an interception.
Neal went 10-for-26 passing for 73 yards with an interception for Ball State. Gilbert had 46 yards on 10 carries as well for the Cardinals.