The University of Notre Dame football team improved to 3-0 in 2023 with its first road-game victory of the season at NC State 38-17 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday afternoon.
The game was delayed by weather and lightning for close to two hours with the Irish holding a 3-0 lead. The first play once the game was resumed was an 80-yard touchdown run by Audric Estimé to put Notre Dame ahead to stay. NC State cut the lead to seven points in the third quarter, but the Irish defense stepped up with three interceptions and the Irish offense capitalized on the mistakes with three straight touchdowns to put the game away.
Estimé led the Irish rushing attack with a career-high-matching 134 yards on 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Sam Hartman posted another great passing performance, finishing 15 of 24 for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes ended up in the hands of sophomore tight end Holden Staes on 35 and 40-yard plays.
The Irish defense, which broke up eight passes in the game, was led by Thomas Harper with seven tackles. Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts and DJ Brown all intercepted passes as well.
