Notre Dame Football: Ben Skowronek was offensive player of the game vs Pitt

In the win over Pitt, wide receiver Ben Skowronek came up big for Notre Dame football.

Ben Skowronek, the transfer wide receiver from Northwestern, made the most of his opportunities against Pitt in a lopsided win for Notre Dame football.

The blowout in Pittsburgh was just one of the surprises we saw on the field today.

Notre Dame dismantled the Panthers by a score of 45-3. Irish quarterback Ian Book, who was pulled late in the third, had moments where he looked calm and poised but also made a few questionable decisions and that shows in his stat line.

While Book barely completed 50 percent of his passes, going 16 for 30, he did throw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Book certainly maximized his completions en route to an overall successful day. Part of that success can be attributed to Ben Skowronek.

Skowronek, a much talked about transfer from Northwestern, had by far his best day as a member of the Irish. He only had two catches, but those catches were the first two touchdowns of the game.

The first Skowronek touchdown was a 34-yard reception when he was wide open over the middle of the field. His second touchdown was the more impressive of the two. Ian Book threw the pass over Skowronek’s head to where only he would be able to catch it. Skowronek was able to make the catch over the Pitt defender and took Notre Dame from a 3rd and 14 to a 73-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

These two big plays ignited the Irish offense that had looked stagnant in the week prior and until that point. Between Skowronek’s last touchdown and Book’s last series, the Irish offense scored on four of five possessions in the form of three touchdowns and a field goal.

Notre Dame will need to continue this kind of play with a major showdown against Clemson looming in two weeks. Before then, the Irish must not overlook Georgia Tech next Saturday.