Notre Dame on a five-game winning streak with 31-13 over Georgia Tech

 

ATLANTA, Ga -- Notre Dame took over Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a final score of 31-13 over Georgia Tech.

A classic case of "walk in your trap, take over your trap" by the Irish.

Although the final score reads 31-13, it was more like 31-7. Georgia Tech found the end zone for the first time since the first quarter, with 23 seconds remaining in the game.

The Irish did just about everything, correct. We even saw trick plays from the Special Teams unit. But the one blemish was getting out to a slow start, as they have all season. For the fourth straight game, Notre Dame has allowed the opposing team to strike first. After the Yellow Jackets Running Back Jamal Haynes scored the first points of the game on a rushing touchdown, it was all blue and gold.

"As you look at the big picture, you say, yeah, you start slow and you respond. We just got to continue to evaluate the plays," Head Coach Marcus Freeman said.

"It's plays that we have to clean up, no matter when they happen in a game. But this group just continues to believe. I told them, man, its life," Freeman added.

After Notre Dame Quarterback Riley Leonard threw an interception on the team's second drive, the offense stepped up.

In back-to-back possessions, Notre Dame completed 19 plays for 143 yards. Both ended with a Leonard rushing touchdown for a 14-7 lead.

"We're expected to go in and win every single ball game and this team, you know, as the year goes on, knows how to how to win, and knows and has a lot of confidence that we can win at the end of the game," Leonard mentioned.

Although Leonard is the field general, the winning doesn't happen without Running Back, Jeremiyah Love. The Sophomore finished with 93 total yards and extends the streak of a touchdown, in 7 straight games.

"He's a special football player. He just finds a way to make plays with the ball in his hands. We got to be creative and continue to find ways to get the ball in his hands, even if that means, on a punt fake, get the ball in Jeremiyah Love's hands because he makes plays," Freeman added.

As we've seen this year, so does the defense. Even when they're short-handed without their captain, star Defensive Back Benjamin Morrison, who is out for the season with a hip injury.

Without the projected first round pick locking down one side of the field, Freshman Leonard Moore was the starter and held it down.

As for the rest of the defense, it was routine. Two sacks from Riley Mills and Jaylen Sneed. Plus, two interceptions. 2023 National Defensive Player of the Year, Xavier Watts hauled in his third of the season and Sophomore Adon Shuler snatched his second of the year and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Irish a 31-7 lead.

"This is, you know, a young team kind of now, right, with some injuries, but we're confident the guys that we put on the field, they just need the opportunity and sometimes it takes an injury or something else to happen to put those guys out there. But Xavier has done a great job all year. Don's (Adon Shuler) done a great job all year," Freeman said.

The next test for Notre Dame will be against the undefeated Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants, on Oct. 26, in East Rutherford, New York.