Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482992
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 5, 2022 23 2 Sacks — a personal best — for junior Jordan Botelho against Syracuse. Those were his first 2 QB takedowns of the season and matched his career total entering the game. 5 Blocked punts this season for Notre Dame, after sophomore cornerback Clarence Lewis notched one in the fourth quarter to set up an Irish touchdown. Accord- ing to Notre Dame media relations, that is the most by an Irish team in a single season since at least 2000. 7 Seconds into the game, the Irish led 7-0 on senior safety Brandon Joseph's 29-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage against Syracuse. It was the first pick for Joseph as a member of the Fighting Irish, and his first career touchdown and 10th career interception. 14 Points off turnovers for Notre Dame against Syra- cuse. The Irish did not to win the turnover battle in any of their first seven games and had managed just 10 points off turnovers for the entire season. 25 Rushing attempts for 120 yards for the Fighting Irish in the first half against Syracuse. The carries marked a season high for the Irish in opening 30 min- utes of any game this season, while the yardage output matched the season best of 120 set at North Carolina. Notre Dame went on to finish with 246 yards and 3 touchdowns. It is the fourth time this season (UNC, BYU, UNLV and Syracuse) the Irish have eclipsed the 200-yard mark. Since managing just 103.0 yards rushing per game during their 0-2 start, the Irish have averaged 209.5 while winning five of their next six contests. 37:40-22:20 Advantage in time of p o s s e s s i o n fo r t h e Fighting Irish vs. the Orange. Notre Dame lost the time- of-possession battle in each of its first two games, but has now won it in each of the last six. The Irish have held a double-digit advantage in that category four times, pos- sessing the ball for at least 36 minutes (60 percent of the game) in those four contests. 44 Receiving yards on 3 receptions — both new career highs — for sophomore wide receiver Deion Colzie. He entered the game against the Orange with no catches this season and just 4 grabs for 67 yards in his career. 108 Years between victories at Syracuse for the Fighting Irish. Prior to this year's win at the JMA Wireless Dome, the last Irish win vs. the Orange in Syracuse was a 20-0 triumph at Archbold Stadium in 1914. The Orange defeated the Irish 38-12 in 2003 in their only other matchup in Syracuse. The Irish have won five straight vs. the Orange and now lead the all-time series 8-3. 1,820 Days since Notre Dame last lost a reg- ular-season game to an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent heading into their matchup with Clemson Nov. 5. The Fighting Irish have registered 26 straight regular-season victories vs. ACC teams — 13 at home and 13 on the road — since a 41-8 defeat at Miami on Nov. 11, 2017. Notre Dame is 38-7 (.844 winning per- centage) against ACC teams since its partnership with the league began in 2014. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 1 , 870 Career receiving yards — the most ever by a Notre Dame tight end — for junior MICHAEL MAYER after he hauled in 3 catches for 54 yards vs. the Orange. He surpassed previous record holder Tyler Eifert, who compiled 1,840 yards from 2009-12. Mayer also increased his career receptions total to 160, making him the fifth Irish player ever to haul in at least that many passes. He keeps extending his career record for catches by an Irish tight end and now sits alone in fifth place among all Irish pass catchers. PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX