The play that changed everything for Notre Dame vs. New Mexico

An uneasy feeling was well felt around Notre Dame nation to start the game versus New Mexico.

Notre Dame fans were not pleased overall with Ian Book’s performance after Week One. He wasn’t necessarily bad, but he didn’t reach his nor anyone else’s expectations that were set last season.

Those feelings were far from being settled in the first quarter against New Mexico. The Lobos clearly were not a team that had any business being on the same field as the Irish, yet after one quarter, the score was a middling 7-0 in favor of the Irish. The most unsettling part was the fact that those seven points didn’t even come from the offense.

Offensively things looked shaky and the team was overall lacking in confidence.

Throughout the second quarter, the Irish were able to tack on a couple of touchdowns, but still looked like they were lacking something.

That was until Book connected with Javon McKinley for only his second career reception. The senior made it one to remember, as he earned every one of his 65-yards on his way to the end zone.

The 6’2” receiver shook off six defenders on his way to his first career touchdown.

More importantly, it was a play that looked in rhythm. Book was comfortable in the pocket and confidently provided a strike through the middle of the field and in stride to McKinley.

It was a play that not only made Book seem more confident throughout the rest of the game but also energized the entire offense.

From there on, that confidence and energy transferred from the field to the scoreboard.

Book would finish the game completing 15-of-24 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns, while Phil Jurkovec and Brendon Clark both spent time under center once things got out of hand.

Notre Dame would have won this game with or without McKinley’s 65-yard reception, but that play created an avenue for the rest of the game that eliminated the uneasy feeling for Irish fans heading into the highly anticipated Georgia matchup.