DURHAM, North Carolina – The University of Notre Dame football team took over on it’s own five-yard line trailing Duke by a score 14-13 with 2:35 left in regulation and needing to come away with a victory.
The Irish put together a 10-play, 95-yard drive that was capped off by a 30-yard touchdown run from Audric Estime with just 31 seconds left in the game to deliver Notre Dame the 21-14 victory at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday evening.
The defining play on the drive was a 17-yard scramble from quarterback Sam Hartman on 4th-and-16 to put the ball on Duke’s 30-yard line, setting up the game-winning touchdown from Estime.
The defense then stood tall one more time, this time via a strip sack from Howard Cross III, which was recovered by Marist Liufau to put an exclamation mark on the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish struck quickly on their first drive, utilizing their big play offense. On the second play of the game, Mitchell Evans grabbed a 28-yard pass down the seam. A false start put the Irish behind the chains and on third and 15, Hartman found Estimé out of the back field for 13 yards. Notre Dame looked to be in punt formation, but a mini-huddle of Irish players broke to the line suddenly and Jeremiyah Love took a direct snap around the right side for 34 yards to put the Irish inside the redzone.
Love followed with a seven-yard run to the six-yard line and Estimé bullied his way in for the first touchdown of the game and sixth of the season to put the Irish on top 7-0.
Notre Dame’s defense earned a stop on Duke’s first drive. Marist Liufau was all over the field early, getting a tackle-for-loss, a pass broken up and a third-down stop all on the first Duke possession. The Blue Devils were able to drive to the Notre Dame 28, but Liufau’s stop forced a 38-yard field goal attempt that was no good.
The Irish drove again into Duke territory on their next drive with Evans gaining two key long third-down conversions on catches of 14 and 21 yards. Notre Dame eventually punted and quickly got the ball back when Xavier Watts intercepted his second pass of the season at the 24-yard line and returned it to the 12.
The interception was the first of the season thrown by Duke quarterback Riley Leonard.
The offense, however, could not find the end zone and settled for a 35-yard Spencer Shrader field goal to increase the lead to 10-0.
The teams then traded possessions with the Irish forcing a Duke three-and-out when Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Liufau combined on a third-down sack. Notre Dame gained one first down on their next try, but could not convert on the next third down and punted again.
Evans continued his stellar play in the game on Notre Dame’s next possession, making a one-handed running catch for a 36-yard gain. The offense stalled again, however, and Shrader missed a 37-yard field goal.
Duke ended the half with its most sustained drive of the game as they turned to their quarterback’s rushing acumen. Leonard carried the ball five times on the drive, including a 21-yard gain to get the Blue Devils all the way down to the Irish 11-yard line.
Duke called Leonard’s number again and as he tried to get through the Irish line, Howard Cross III forced a fumble but the Irish were unable to fall on the ball first. The Blue Devils attempted a 24-yard field goal as the first half expired but it ended up just wide right and Notre Dame took a 10-0 lead into the break.
Duke received the ball after halftime and the Irish defense earned yet another stop, forcing a punt after three plays and just five yards. Notre Dame worked its way down the field behind a Chris Tyree 22-yard reception. Hartman followed with a four-yard scramble on third and six to give the Irish a chance to go for it on fourth down and two at the Duke 36-yard line.
Hartman scrambled again on fourth down – this time for seven yards – but the Irish offense would end up stalling and settling for a field goal again. Shrader was true from 45 yards and the Irish moved their lead to 13-0.
The ground game would get Duke down the field for their first touchdown. Rushing nine times during an 11-play drive, highlighted by a 34-yard rush, cut the Irish lead to 13-7 with 3:36 left in the third quarter.
The two sides traded punts before Duke’s first drive of the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils marched down the field for the go-ahead score, putting together an eight-play, 80-yard drive which was capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass to take their first lead of the night at 14-13 with 9:17 left in the game.
Notre Dame’s ensuing possession stalled, forcing the Irish to give the ball back to Duke with just under eight minutes left.
The Irish came up with a crucial stop on the following Duke drive, setting up the dramatic finish.
