Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 17, 2020 25 2 Notre Dame running backs who surpassed the 100-yard rushing barrier during the 42-26 win versus Florida State: sophomore Kyren Williams (185) and freshman Chris Tyree (103). The last time the Fighting Irish had two players eclipse the century mark rush- ing in a game was in the 49-14 romp over USC in 2017 when running back Josh Adams produced 191 yards and quarterback Brandon Wimbush 106. 21 Victories in a row at home by Notre Dame, which trails only No. 1 Clemson (25) for the most in the country. It also is the second-longest streak in the 90-year history of Notre Dame Stadium, which opened in 1930. The record is 28 from 1942-50. 27 Straight wins over unranked opponents by Notre Dame, which is two short of the school-record 29 set from 1990-94. It is second currently also to Alabama, which has not experienced such a defeat since 2007 and is closing in on 100. 28 Games out of 29 under third-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea where the opposition did not score more than 30 points, with last year's 45-14 loss at Michigan the exception. In the three previous years from 2015-17 it had occurred 12 times, and seven times alone in 2014. Considering that on this same week No. 2 Alabama had to win a 63-48 shoot- out against Ole Miss, No. 4 Florida lost 41-38 to Texas A&M and No. 8 North Carolina survived a 56-45 contest with Virginia Tech, limiting opponents to less than 30 points in today's game is not always as easy as it might sound. 60 Career touchdown passes by fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book after completing short scoring tosses to freshman tight end Michael Mayer and junior wide receiver Braden Lenzy against Florida State. That ties him with Jimmy Clausen (2007-09) for third place on the school's all-time chart, and just one behind his current offensive coordinator and position coach Tommy Rees (2010-13). Brady Quinn (2003-06) at this point might be too far ahead to surpass with his 95. 107 Receiving yards by fifth-year senior Javon McKinley on five recep- tions. He had totaled only 12 career catches entering the Florida State contest. It was the first Notre Dame game where the Irish had two 100- yard rushers (Williams and Tyree) and a 100-yard receiver since the 38-36 loss at Stanford in the 2015 regular-season finale, when running back Josh Adams and quarterback DeShone Kizer had 168 and 128 yards on the ground, respec- tively, while wideout Will Fuller totaled 136 receiving yards. 353 Rushing yards by Notre Dame, which was the most in a game since … well, Florida State's last visit to Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 10, 2018, when Dexter Williams' 202 rushing yards led a 365-yard ground attack during a 42-13 victory versus the Seminoles. That was a career high for Wil- liams — just like another Williams (no relation), Kyren, had with 185 against Florida State two years later. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI 9 Consecutive wins by Notre Dame, dating back to the final six games last season, which is tied with Air Force for the longest current streak in the 130-school Football Bowl Subdivision. However, the Falcons don't play again until Oct. 24 at San Jose State, meaning a win by Notre Dame over Louisville next week would put it at No. 1 with 10. Tennessee entered the Oct. 10 weekend tied with Notre Dame with eight straight wins, but the Volunteers lost at No. 3 Georgia, 44-21. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS