Notre Dame vs. North Carolina

By: ABC57 Staff
Posted: Oct 7, 2017 3:30 PM EDT
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It was a cloudy and rainy day in Chapel Hill as Notre Dame went back on the road to take on the Tar Heels of North Carolina Saturday.

The Tar Heels came into the game as a struggling team with only one win on the season, whereas Notre Dame came in with only one loss.

Standout Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who was recovering from an ankle injury, would be benched. Second string QB Ian Book would get his first start for Notre Dame.

Both teams would remain scoreless through the end of the first quarter as defensive pressure on each side kept the game balanced. However, Notre Dame would get on the board first early in the second.

Only a few seconds into the quarter, a very composed Book fired a shot into the endzone hitting his man Cameron Smith for an Irish touchdown. After Justin Yoon's kick, the Irish lead 7-0.

Notre Dame would grow their lead by another seven points when Josh Adams carried the ball 73 yards for another touchdown. Yoon's kick was good and the Irish go up 14-0 over the Tar Heels with just over 12:00 to go in the half.

With just over 8:25 left in the half, UNC QB Chazz Surratt loses the football on the snap. He would fumble and ND's Khalid Kareem recovered for the Irish to take over midfield. That turnover would not result in a score.

UNC answering back with a turnover of their own. Book launches the ball down the field from the ND 3-yard line only to be intercepted by UNC safety Myles Dorn. The Tar Heel with their chance at midfield. This one would result in a score with 1:50 left in the half. Surratt fires downfield to Anthony Rarliff-Williams who runs it 25 yards for a TD. After the kick ND is still in the lead 14-7.

On 4th down of ND's ensuing possession, they would punt it inside the 1-yard line where the Tar Heels took over. However, UNC Tailback Jordon Brown was taken down in the endzone, tacking on a couple bonus points for Notre Dame with a safety.

The team go into halftime with Notre Dame leading 16-7.

The start of the second half would start with ND's Julian Okwara reaching for Surratt's pass, tipping it, and picking it. He takes it 5 yards to the NC 16. That would set up Yoon to add on a field goal to make it a 12-point lead for the Irish. ND 19, UNC 7 with 11:20 to go in the third quarter.

With just over 7:00 left in the quarter, Book would look downfield for Durham Smythe but UNC's Myles Dorn would snag his second interception of the day and the Tar Heels would take over at the NC 6-yard line.

Notre Dame wasn't phased by the turnover. On their following possession, Deon McIntosh would find a gap, break through a crowd, and take the ball 35 yards across the goal line. ND pulls away from UNC 26-7 after the kick.

Penalties and turnover seemed to be plaguing the game. At the end of the third quarter, a total of 18 penalties, 3 interceptions, and 4 fumbles were racked up between the teams.

Penalties would root their ugly head once again. This time, the Tar Heels are within scoring range when Surratt connects with Ratliff-Williams for a TD. However, that score would be ripped away due to holding by UNC's Nick Polino. The Tar Heels would be forced to settle for a field goal with 14:11 left in the game. ND 26, UNC 10.

Deon McIntosh wouldn't see any penalties and he seemed to be on fire. Well, his feet were. With just over 9:00 to go, he would break a few tackles and run the ball 24 yards for his second TD of the day. Notre Dame creates a wider gap 33-10 after the kick.

On UNC's following possession, Surrett completes a pass to Beau Corrales but ND's Drue Tranquill would force a fumble and ND would take over at their own 38-yard line. The fifth fumble of the game would not result in a score for the Irish but that would work out because Notre Dame went on to in the game 33-10.

The Irish are home in South Bend on Oct. 21 where they will host the University of Southern California.

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