Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1507821
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 23, 2023 25 1 Fighting Irish player has thrown two touch- down passes of 75 yards or more in the same game since at least 1996: graduate student quarter- back Sam Hartman. His scoring throws of 75 yards to sophomore wide receiver Tobias Merriweather and 76 yards to senior slot receiver Chris Tyree gave him 50 career touchdowns on deep passes. Hartman also became the second FBS quarter- back to achieve that feat this year — joining New Mexico State's Diego Pavia, who had 75- and 80- yard strikes against Western Illinois Sept. 2. 5 Consecutive games, dating back the 2022 Ga- tor Bowl, Notre Dame has scored at least 40 points — the first time in school history that has happened. The Fighting Irish had scored at least 40 points in four straight contests three other times (1900, 1991 and 1996). In 1900, the Irish were shutout in their next game at Indiana. In 1991, the streak was snapped in a 28-15 win over Air Force. In 1996, Notre Dame lost 27-20 in overtime at USC in its next outing. 9 Fumbles by Notre Dame opponents — seven of which were forced by the Irish — after two more by Central Michigan through the first four games of the season. However, the Irish have yet to make a fumble recovery this season. 10-0 Record all time for Notre Dame against Mid-American Conference opponents. The Irish are 1-0 versus Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and To- ledo; 2-0 against Miami (Ohio); and 3-0 versus Western Michigan. Those 10 wins have come by an average margin of 31.2 points per game. 14 Points allowed in the first half by Notre Dame against Central Michigan. The Irish allowed just 10 combined points in the first half of their first three games. 16.3 Yards per pass attempt for graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman in the first half. He completed 8 of 13 throws for 212 yards with 2 touchdowns. He finished the game with an average of 12.7 yards per pass attempt (16 of 26 for 330 yards). Generally, anything better than 7.0 is considered good. 176 Yards rushing for junior running back Audric Estimé. It represents a new ca- reer high and marked his third-straight 100-yard rushing performance, also a career first. The only time he failed to hit triple digits this year was a 95-yard effort versus Navy in the season opener. Estimé's 176 yards mark the 21st time a Notre Dame running back has surpassed 175 yards since 1996 and is the most for an Irish player since Kyren Williams ran for 199 yards against North Carolina on Oct. 30, 2021. 184 Points scored by Notre Dame during its 4-0 start — the most in program history since the 1914 squad opened the season by tallying 191 (56 vs. Alma, 102 vs. Rose Poly, 0 at Yale and 33 vs. South Dakota). 330 Passing yards for Sam Hartman, the first 300-yard game with the Irish and the 22nd of his career. It is also the 66th 300-yard game in school history. 578 Yards of total offense for Notre Dame — the first 500-yard performance of the season and the most for the program since the Irish racked up 591 in a 66-14 victory over New Mexico on Sept. 14, 2019. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 1st Career sack for graduate student safety THOMAS HARPER came in the sec- ond quarter against Central Michigan. Harper took down Chippewas quarterback Jase Bauer for a 10-yard loss and recorded his second career forced fumble in the process. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER