Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1187512
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 30, 2019 23 7 Consecutive victories Notre Dame has posted against Boston College since 2009, with head coach Brian Kelly owning a 6-0 mark. Prior to this streak, the Eagles had their own six-game winning string versus the Irish from 2001-08 to tie the series at 9-9. The next meeting between the two is slated for 2022, which also will be at Notre Dame before the Irish travel to Boston College in 2025. 8 Straight wins in November by the Fighting Irish, all four last year and the first four this season. That is the longest winning streak for the program in November/December regular-season games since 1966-68, when those teams also won eight in a row before a 21-21 tie at No. 2 USC in the 1968 regular- season finale. A win at Stanford next week would take it to nine, which would be the longest since 1953-55. 18 Consecutive victories at home, one short of the second-longest streak of 19 (1987-90) since 1930, when Notre Dame Stadium opened. The record is 28 from 1942-50. The Fighting Irish also completed their first back- to-back perfect records at home in 2018-19 since achieving it all three years in 1987-89. The streak is the fourth longest currently in the Football Bowl Subdivi- sion, behind Clemson (22), Central Florida (20) and Ohio State (20). 18 Victories by Book as Notre Dame's starter, going 1-0 in 2017 (versus North Carolina), 8-1 in 2018 and 9-2 so far this season. If he opts to return for a fifth season for which he is eligible in 2020, he realistically could end up with the most victories as the starting quarterback for the Irish, which has a three-way tie at 29 among Tom Clements (29-5 from 1972-74), Ron Powlus (29-16-1 from 1994-97) and Brady Quinn (29-18 from 2003-16). Book's 66 rushing yards against Boston College also marked the fourth consecutive game this November in which he led the team in rushing, which might be an unprecedented feat in school history (to be researched later). 22 Wins in a row by Notre Dame against unranked opponents since 2017, matching Alabama as the lone school in these three years to achieve that distinction. The last such defeat occurred on Senior Day in 2016 versus Virginia Tech (34-31). 24 Turnovers generated by the Fighting Irish defense this season after forcing two more versus Boston College while Notre Dame had none. The most produced in Kelly's 10 seasons at the school was 25 in his first season back in 2010. Entering the game versus the Eagles, the only two teams among 130 in the Football Bowl Subdivision that had forced more were Illinois (26) and Clemson (24), with the latter having a bye. 24.2 Yards averaged by sophomore wide receiver Braden Lenzy on his 14 touches this season following his 61-yard touchdown scamper on a jet sweep on his lone carry versus Boston College. The speedster has eight receptions for 199 yards (24.9 yards per catch) and six carries for 140 yards (23.3 yards per attempt). In addition to the tally versus the Eagles, he had a similar 51-yard touchdown jaunt versus USC and a 70-yard scoring reception versus Navy the game prior to Boston College. 1989 Marked the most recent season Notre Dame defeated three straight opponents by at least 30 points, as it has this year with Duke (38-7), Navy (52-20) and Boston College (40-7). Thirty years ago it oc- curred against Pitt (45-7), Navy (41-0) and SMU (59-6) while setting the all-time program record for longest winning streak, which reached 23. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI 6 Touchdown catches by junior tight end COLE KMET this year after snaring an 11-yard tally from senior quarter- back Ian Book in the third quarter. That tied the single-season school tight end record set by Ken MacAfee in 1977. MacAfee was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award as the nation's top player while helping that team to the national title. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS