Notre Dame Football: Play that changed everything against Pittsburgh

The Notre Dame football team dominated the Pittsburgh Panthers and progressed more than in any game this year.

Many college football writers (including those here at Slap the Sign) believed the Irish would struggle with the Pitt Panthers because of their propensity to stop the run and Notre Dame’s inability to throw the ball deep.

The Irish shattered all expectations with 312 yards from the right arm of 5th-year senior quarterback Ian Book.

A connection between Book and graduate transfer wide receiver Ben Skowronek changed the entire complexion of Saturday’s 45-3 rout of the Panthers.

The Irish began the game with a solid 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Book to Skowronek. After a Pitt field goal made the score 7-3, the Irish and Panthers traded to punts each.

It appeared that the experts were right as Notre Dame looked to punt for the third consecutive drive. The Irish faced 3rd and 14 from their own 27 yard line. Book dropped back heaved a ball up for grabs. In the mind of Skowronek, the ball was not up for grabs.

Skowronek leaped and snared a pass that stunned the entire Pitt secondary. By the time Safety Erick Hallett realized what happened, Skowronek was well on his way to the end zone. After making the score 14-3, the game was never in doubt.

Of course, this play made a huge impact on the game. However, the real impact is the confidence the Irish coach staff and players have in the passing game going forward. The contest against Clemson is a referendum on the season.

Although the Notre Dame football team is not good enough to beat Clemson today, it moved closer to that target with this play, the 73-yard touchdown catch by Skowronek, and the game as a whole.