Notre Dame Football: 3 Things Learned From North Carolina State vs. Notre Dame
By Andrew Hall
The Fighting Irish moved to 7-1 on the season with another blowout victory over the Wolfpack. The Notre Dame football team proved that they can prepare week in and week out. Here are three things learned from today’s game between North Carolina State and Notre Dame.
Shaky Special Teams
The Notre Dame special teams looked extremely shaky on Saturday afternoon. It began early in the game when North Carolina State blocked a Tyler Newsome punt. The blocked punt gave the Wolfpack a 7-0 lead. This was the second time that North Carolina State blocked a punt for a touchdown against Notre Dame in as many years.
Justin Yoon and the Notre Dame kick coverage struggled as well. The Irish allowed a 58-yard return to all-purpose player Jaylen Samuels. Yoon also kicked the ball out of bounds, allowing the Wolfpack to start their drive at the 35-yard line.
More from Slap the Sign
- PointsBet Promo: Bet $50, Win an Official Jersey at Fanatics!
- Notre Dame vs NC State: How to watch, odds, injuries, series history and more
- Caesars Indiana Sign-Up Promo: Win $250 GUARANTEED Bonus Betting on Notre Dame This Week!
- FanDuel + DraftKings Indiana Promos: Bet $10 on Notre Dame, Win $400 Bonus GUARANTEED!
- New Caesars + DraftKings Indiana Promos: $450 GUARANTEED Bonus Backing Notre Dame vs. Navy!
CJ Sanders performed better in the kick return. However, he still has not consistently threatened to score on a return.
33 Trucking Still Delivering
North Carolina State had not allowed a 100-yard rusher. Furthermore, they only yielded 133 yards in their “worst” defensive performance. However, the sixth-ranked rushing defense failed to keep Notre Dame’s rushing attack in check.
Heisman hopeful Josh Adams ran for 202 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown. Once again, Adams broke a huge run. In the third quarter, he sprinted for 77 yards and an Irish touchdown. His touchdown dash effectively finished off the Wolfpack.
Overall, the Irish rushed for 319 yards. The big-time matchup between the Wolfpack Defensive Line and the Irish Offensive Line was won decisively by the “maul cops.”
Wimbush Improving
The Junior Quarterback from Jersey City, New Jersey continued to improve through the air. Wimbush finished with 104 yards passing. His numbers were not impressive. However, he showed that he can be a more efficient passer.
Next: 30 Things All Notre Dame Fans Should Do Before They Die
Wimbush completed 10 of 19 passes. He tallied 2 touchdown passes. His throws showed that he can make all of them. He completed a beautiful fade route to Stepherson and a dime to Durham Smythe. Many from the outside would say that Notre Dame’s playoff hopes rest on Josh Adams. However, in reality, they lie in the right arm of Wimbush.