Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 27, 2020

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 27, 2020 19 BY LOU SOMOGYI D ecades from now, the 2020 college football season will be remembered in the books as one of the strangest be- cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, though, a different Book has been writing his own spe- cial chapters to this year. Fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book has been etching his name into the pantheon of greats at Notre Dame this month, first with a dramatic rally to defeat No. 1 Clemson, and following it up with a dominant performance in the 45-31 victory at Boston College (5-4, 4-4 ACC) to extend the No. 2-ranked Fighting Irish's (8-0, 7-0 ACC) winning streak to a nation-leading 14. With the running backs banged up, three fumbles lost and a defense perhaps still somewhat fatigued from the Clemson contest, Book's passing, rushing, improvisation and leadership were "the difference in this game," per Irish head coach Brian Kelly. The two-time captain completed 20 of 27 passes for 283 yards with three touchdowns to classmate Ben Skow- ronek — plus no interceptions for a seventh straight game — and added a game-high 85 rushing yards on 10 attempts with another score. "It was a landslide in terms of the support that he has throughout the team," Kelly said of Book's captaincy. "And to do that, he can't fake it. They trust him implicitly with all things in this football program. "So I don't know if that's a secret as much as who he is as a person and how he handles himself. He's just a good man, a good person and a great leader for our football team." The Eagles provided some early tense moments while taking 10-3 and 13-10 leads, but the Irish defense and Book took control enough in the mid- dle portion of the game with a 28-3 run to keep the Eagles at bay. Former Notre Dame quarterback Phil Jurkovec completed 18 of 40 passes for 272 yards with two scores and an interception. Boston College was not able to provide much support with the run, finishing with just 85 yards on the ground — right at Notre Dame's average on run defense that ranks among the country's top five. FIRST QUARTER TIED, 10-10 Top Moment: Following two straight scores by Boston College to take a 10-3 lead, Notre Dame re- sponded with a 77-yard touchdown march that concluded with a 10-yard touchdown to Skowronek on a jump- ball fade from Book with 11 seconds remaining. Book opened the drive by completing a 22-yard toss to senior slot receiver Avery Davis, and two plays later a 20-yard strike to sopho- more running back Kyren Williams across the middle. Feature Performer: Book completed 9 of 11 passes for 99 yards and carried three times for 18 yards, accounting for 117 of Notre Dame's 136 yards. Stats: Notre Dame ran 21 plays for 136 yards while Boston College to- taled 14 plays for 64 yards (45 pass- ing, 19 rushing). Items: Notre Dame received the opening kickoff and moved 69 yards in 14 plays, capped by a 23-yard field goal by senior kicker Jonathan Doerer with 9:39 left. Top plays included a 12-yard run by Williams and a 12- yard pass to freshman tight end Mi- chael Mayer, plus a pass interference on the Eagles on third-and-six at the Boston College 13 … The Eagles an- swered with an 80-yard touchdown drive in which Jurkovec, under du- ress from sophomore defensive end Isaiah Foskey, desperately lofted a toss into the end zone, where a div- ing Zay Flowers made the four-yard score with 5:03 remaining. Jurkovec completed 4 of 6 passes for 51 yards, scrambled for 10 yards, and running back Travis Levy had a 22-yard run. The pivotal play was a 12-yard diving catch by wideout Jehlani Galloway on third-and-eight from the Irish 21-yard line … On the first play after Boston College's touchdown, Irish freshman running back Chris Tyree fumbled a hand-off that defensive end Brandon Barlow recovered at the Irish 19. But two incomplete passes and a six-yard loss on a screen resulted in a 41-yard field by Aaron Boumerhi and a 10-3 lead at the 3:56 mark. SECOND QUARTER NOTRE DAME, 31-16 Top Moment: After Boston College took its second lead at 13-10, Notre Dame came right back with a 75-yard touchdown march, highlighted by a 48-yard catch-and-run across the middle from Book to Davis on third- and-10 from midfield. Junior running back C'Bo Flemister powered in from the 2-yard-line on the next play, the 10:24 mark, and the Irish would not relinquish the lead thereafter. Feature Performer: Book domi- nated the entire half with both his patience in the pocket and improvi- sation when needed. The Irish com- piled 327 total yards, with Book ac- counting for 280, completing 17 of 22 throws for 213 yards and carrying eight times for 67 yards. Stats: Boston College had 160 to- tal yards in the half (131 passing, 29 rushing), less than half what the Irish accumulated. NOTRE DAME 45, BOSTON COLLEGE 31 Nov. 14, 2020 ✦ Attendance: 0 Alumni Stadium ✦ Chestnut Hill, Mass. Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Notre Dame 10 21 7 7 45 Boston College 10 6 7 8 31 ND BC FIRST QUARTER ND Doerer 23-yard field goal 9:39 3 0 Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 5:21 BC Flowers 4-yard pass from Jurkovec (Boumerhi kick) 5:03 3 7 Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:30 BC Boumerhi 41-yard field goal 3:56 3 10 Drive: 4 plays, -6 yards, 0:56 ND Skowronek 10-yard pass from Book (Doerer kick) 0:11 10 10 Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:39 SECOND QUARTER BC Boumerhi 31-yard field goal 12:41 10 13 Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 2:25 ND Flemister 2-yard run (Doerer kick) 10:24 17 13 Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:13 ND Skowronek 13-yard pass from Book (Doerer kick) 5:43 24 13 Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:32 BC Boumerhi 35-yard field goal 3:12 24 16 Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 2:31 ND Skowronek 7-yard pass from Book (Doerer kick) 0:04 31 16 Drive: 9 plays, 49 yards, 2:05 THIRD QUARTER ND Flemister 1-yard run (Doerer kick) 6:34 38 16 Drive: 4 plays, 43 yards, 1:57 BC Bailey 3-yard run (Boumerhi kick) 0:35 38 23 Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:59 FOURTH QUARTER ND Book 6-yard run (Doerer kick) 12:19 45 23 Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:10 BC Long 8-yard pass from Jurkovec (Levy rush) 4:09 45 31 Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 1:28

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