Strong Second Half Powers Notre Dame past North Carolina
Via Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 3 Notre Dame faced adversity, but snapped into form in the second half by relying on a strong rushing attack to put away the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Irish felt extreme pressure for the first time this season in an extended version of middle eight, as North Carolina stopped the Irish on 4th and goal, and then rattled off a 15 play, 97-yard drive to make it a one-possession game going into halftime.
The Tar Heels opened the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return, but botched the PAT that left the Irish leading 21-20.
How did Notre Dame respond?
By leaning on what seemed to be the biggest weakness through the first four games of the season, the rushing attack.
The Irish put together a 17 play, 75-yard drive that spanned 9:10 minutes and was punctuated with a three-yard rushing touchdown by CJ Carr.
True freshman Jonaz Walton got the bulk of the carries, and finished the game with career-highs in rushing yards (120) and rushing attempts (23).
The Notre Dame defense followed the touchdown drive with a three and out, and the Irish got the ball right back and it ended in a similar result, an eight play, 68-yard drive that ended in a passing touchdown to Nolan James Jr.
Carr accounted for all five of Notre Dame's touchdown drives, throwing for four and adding one on the ground. He finished 21-29 for 234 yards.
Notre Dame's leading receiver was Jordan Faison who caught eight passed for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Jaden Greathouse also had his first touchdown of the season on a 12-yard back shoulder slot fade.
The Tar Heels were able to surprisingly move the ball on Notre Dame's stout defense, as Carolina accumulated 285 total yards, including 208 through the air.
UNC QB Billy Edwards finished with three touchdowns, but did throw two interceptions, one by LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and the other by S Luke Talich.
Notre Dame's special teams operation had a really difficult day as well, as P Jasper Scaife dropped two snaps, one as a punter and the other as the holder on a PAT, and the Fighting Irish gave up the previously mentioned kickoff return.
There's plenty to work on in South Bend, and if anything this game amplified that Notre Dame is far from a finished product, but the Irish were able to show their fight and their ability to control the game on the ground. Both are extremely valuable lessons that will pay off far past an early October game against Bill Belichick.
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