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Ian Book, Kyren Williams and the Irish offensive line were instrumental in the final run of Notre Dame’s 31-17 victory at Chapel Hill.
Junior tight end George Takacs didn’t.
But it was Takacs who gained 12 yards on an Ian Book 3rd and 5th pass inside the Tar Heels 20-yard line to prepare Williams with a 1-worm dive and a decisive score at 1:20. to play.
The Irish defense, however, defined the day albeit after a rough start.
North Carolina struck first with a third touchdown from Howell to a leaping Emery Simmons, who made a circus catch on Irish cornerback TaRiq Bracy for the six-yard score and the 7-0 Tar lead. Heels.
The Irish responded in their second streak, walking 75 yards in nine games, culminating with a two-yard Kyren Williams touchdown dive to tie the game at 7-7.
The first quarter fireworks were far from over, with Howell and the Tar Heels quickly scoring their second possession highlighted by a 51-yard drive to Dyami Brown – again at the expense of Bracy who failed Received security help – before the quarterback called him. own number on a keeper on the left side of a meter.
The Irish hit their hosts with the equalizer when a scrambled pound hit Williams for a score from the 4-yard line after a bad snap chased the Irish trigger to his own 20-yard line. Book set the scoring with a 43-yard pass to Javon McKinley and a designed 33-yard draw to the Tar Heels goal line.
The 28-point opening salvo (14-14) marked Notre Dame’s highest second quarter of the season, behind only a 17-14 first-quarter explosion in favor of Florida State in early October .
The second quarter was just six points – a pair of late goal trades by North Carolina’s Grayson Atkins at 42 yards, then a Jonathan Doerer from 32 yards at halftime.
But it was Kyle Hamilton’s singular play that potentially dealt the biggest blow – a personal targeting foul that not only gave the well-short Tar Heels a first try to keep their basket practice alive, but resulted in an ejection for arguably the most important player in the Irish defense.
Still, following the star’s absence, Clark Lea’s Irish defense rebounded, forcing punters four straight possessions to open the second half.
The Irish took control of the scoreboard with a four-hit defensive first possession in the third quarter, followed by a 13-game, 97-yard practice that ended with a 13-yard Jet Sweep touchdown by Ben Skowronek – his first attempt at race. of the season – for an Irish advantage of 24-17 with 7:05 to go.
Notre Dame also threatened the Tar Heels on their next possession with a 53-yard pass from Book to McKinley, but the reader stalled inside the host’s 20-yard line. The lack of finishing power was exacerbated when Doerer hit a 32-yard attempt at close range.
Still holding a seven-point advantage at the 5:52 mark of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame took possession of the football at its own 11-yard line – its defense allowing just 54 yards in the second half over 21 Tar Heels’ s. stop at this point.
The Irish offense took control of the procedure, leading 89 yards in eight plays with Williams scoring on the aforementioned dive set up by Book’s throw at Takacs. Williams opened the drift with a 43-yard sprint down the surrendered left side to provide leeway and momentum the Irish never gave up.
Williams finished with 124 yards on 23 carries, scoring twice while Book threw for 279 yards, completing 23 of 33 passes for a non-intercept. The contest marked the eighth straight in which Book was not taken.
Howell, who suffered six sacks, was held to 211 yards after throwing for 165 in the first half.
Javon McKinley led all receivers with 135 yards on six receptions. The Irish passed their hosts 478-298, including four touchdowns from at least 75 yards in the afternoon.
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