Notre Dame Football Recaps: Irish Smash The Minutemen
By Andrew Hall
Notre Dame moves to 4-0 with a 62-27 victory over UMASS
If every Notre Dame play did not see the field with a 50-point lead, Team 127’s high expectations would not have been met on Saturday. Although it took Notre Dame a while to build their lead, the Irish completed an undefeated September campaign for the second time in as many years.
The Irish opened the scoring on a 57-yard touchdown run by C.J. Prosise. The Notre Dame speedster gained a total of 149 yards with 2 touchdowns. He eclipsed the 100-mark in the first Quarter.
Kizer added to the Notre Dame lead with a 7-yard touchdown run that capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Justin Yoon’s extra point made the score, 14-0.
UMASS found their way to the scoreboard soon after. Freshman Marquis Young went 83-yards on a draw play. Notre Dame blocked the extra point, making the score, 14-6.
The Minutemen added to their momentum with an interception off a deflected pass. UMASS went 50-yards in 10-plays for another touchdown.
With the score 14-13, DeShone Kizer hit Will Fuller on a broken play to move the score to 21-13. Fuller finished the game with 57 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Kizer finished the contest, 15-of-22 for 207 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
UMASS responded with a trick play that netted the Minutemen 56-yards. Several plays later, UMASS punched it in on a 1-yard Jamal Wilson touchdown run.
After Notre Dame forced a punt, former child actor, C.J. Sanders, returned the UMASS punt 50-yards for the touchdown. Sanders’ first touchdown as a Notre Dame player made the score, 28-20.
Kizer lead the Fighting Irish on a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended in a 7-yard Chris Brown touchdown. The Irish entered the half with a 35-20 lead.
The Fighting Irish started the 2nd half off on the right foot. Notre Dame moved down the field on a 7-play, 73 yard drive that was capped by 16-yard Prosise touchdown run.
One the next UMASS possession, the Minutemen attempted to fake punt but were thwarted by 5th-year Senior Linebacker Jarrett Grace. 2 plays later, Freshman Running Back Dexter Williams scored on 14-yard touchdown run.
Midway through the 3rd quarter, Notre Dame Freshman Quarterback Brandon Wimbush entered the game. With 2:18 left in the quarter, Wimbush squirted through for a 58-yard touchdown. Wimbush finished with 17 yards passing and 92 yards rushing.
Freshman Running Back Josh Adams capped the Irish scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run. Adam finished the game with 13 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Notre Dame returns to the field next week in Clemson, South Carolina for their matchup with the Tigers. The Irish kickoff in Death Valley at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.