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Notre Dame football: Kyren Williams runs all over UNC in 44-34 victory

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 30: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown with Avery Davis #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second quarter in the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 30: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown with Avery Davis #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second quarter in the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams enters Notre Dame Stadium for the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams enters Notre Dame Stadium for the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Kyren Williams runs all over UNC in 44-34 victory

4th Quarter

North Carolina failed to gain the first down and instead used Howell to drop kick a punt that rolled inside the 10. That didn’t matter, though. Kyren Williams, determined to prove his knee was fine, took a run up the middle with no room, reversed field, hit the edge, and took the ball 91 yards for an Irish touchdown. He stiffed armed a defender down in the backfield and got a massive block from Michael Mayer downfield. 38-27.

DJ Brown, Kyle Hamilton’s replacement, then immediately intercepted Sam Howell. Tack on an unsportsmanlike foul on North Carolina, and the Irish were in a position to bury the Tar Heels. Avery Davis took an end-around inside the five, but the drive stalled there. North Carolina made a stand and Brian Kelly opted to kick a short field goal to make it 41-27. Not quite a dagger.

The next drive started with another Notre Dame injury. Isaiah Foskey was injured making a tackle, and stayed down for a long time, before running off the field. That drive eventually ended in a Sam Howell touchdown drive to keep North Carolina in the game. Again, the Irish missed multiple tackles, including a potential sack. The next drive for Notre Dame became the Kyren Williams show, as he marched towards 200 yards.

With about three and a half minutes left and Notre Dame deep in Tar Heel territory, North Carolina started using their timeouts. Buchner misfired on third and long, but a flag came out for pass interference that gave the Irish life to end the game. Admittedly, it was a soft call. It did give Notre Dame time to drain more clock, though, which they did. However, they couldn’t find the endzone. Instead, with 1:40 left, Kelly called timeout and opted for a field goal to make it a two-score game. 44-34.

Sam Howell marched North Carolina downfield, but they ultimately ran out of time. Notre Dame wins 44-34.

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