Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526670
24 SEPT. 21, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED QUARTERBACK RILEY LEONARD Following a week of ridicule and reflection, the Irish senior answered his critics when he needed only two quarters to rush 11 times for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns. Substituted out at halftime with Notre Dame leading 42-0, Leonard still managed 11- of-16 passing for 112 yards in the first half with no touchdowns and no interceptions. And while Leonard still has no touchdown passes for the Irish this season, none were needed against the Boilermakers in what became the second 100-yard rushing game and second 3-touchdown rushing game he has posted in his career. TAILBACK JEREMIYAH LOVE Considered one of the more consistent performers on the Irish offense this season, the sophomore tailback tallied 10 carries for 109 yards (10.9 yards per attempt) and 1 touchdown in the rout of Purdue. The first 100-yard rushing game of his career, Love set an early offensive tone for the Irish on the fifth play of the game when he went 48 yards over the right side for a touchdown, a 7-0 Irish lead, and his third scoring run of the season. VYPER BOUBACAR TRAORE A balanced defensive effort that included many terrific individual performances, and gave the Irish coaches a chance to empty the bench in the second half, made handing out game balls difficult on this side of the ball. Notre Dame allowed Purdue only 162 offensive yards and 3.3 yards per play. But this sophomore defensive end gets the game ball after recording the first interception of his career. Traore returned the pick 34 yards for a touchdown to push the Irish lead to 35-0, and close any doubts on the final outcome in this impressive defensive performance. He added 2 tackles, both for loss, with 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry. Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love jump-started the Irish offense with a 48-yard touchdown on the opening drive and the Irish were off and running. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER TURNING POINT The turning point in this game didn't take long to pinpoint. After its tough 16-14 home upset loss to Northern Illinois Sept. 7, all eyes were on the struggling Notre Dame offense when it traveled to Purdue. The Irish responded, efficiently and fast. On the opening possession of the game, Notre Dame needed only 5 plays and 2:10 to go 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead that it built on all afternoon. Irish sophomore tail- back Jeremiyah Love finished the quick drive when he went untouched over the right side and down the sideline for a 48-yard touch- down run. The Fighting Irish have made a habit of quick offensive starts so far this season, with the Purdue game marking the third time in three outings the Irish have scored on their opening possession. STATS OF THE GAME Talk about flipping the script. After the two- point upset loss to NIU in which the Irish were outperformed in rushing yardage (190-123), total yardage (388-286) and time of posses- sion (34:38-25:22) while also losing the turn- over battle (2-0), the Irish dominated in every area against Purdue. Notre Dame held advantages in total yard- age (578-162), rushing yardage (362-38) and time of possession (35:43-24:17) while scoring 14 points off of its 2 takeaways. Third-down conversions were also a problem for Notre Dame through its first two games — it ranked 128th nationally at 28 percent — but it went 7 of 12 against the Boilers, while hold- ing Purdue to only 1 of 12 on third downs. FLIP THE SCRIPT If there was ever a perfect response to a de- flating defeat, Notre Dame displayed it against Purdue. In a dominating, back-to-basics ap- proach to game planning, the Irish scored five touchdowns on its seven run-reliant drives in the first half, and added a defensive touch- down to take a 42-0 halftime lead. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock explained pre-Purdue that simplify- ing the strategy might boost an Irish offense that was averaging only 18.5 points per game. Notre Dame simplified things with 44 carries for 362 yards on the ground. The Irish rush game piled up most of its production in the first half, with 24 carries for 278 yards and 5 touchdowns while building a 42-0 lead at the break. It marked only the ninth time in the last 24 years that Notre Dame rushed for more than 200 yards in a first half. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY TODD D. BURLAGE GAME BALLS BY TODD D. BURLAGE