The University of Notre Dame football team (6-1) scored 31 consecutive points while holding Georgia Tech’s rushing attack to 64 total yards and 31 points in a 31-14 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. We won against 14.
The Irish’ offense was led by quarterback Riley Leonard, who shook off an early interception and completed 20 of 29 passes for 203 yards and rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns. . Running back Jeremiah Love totaled 93 yards and a rushing touchdown, and safety Adon Shuler rounded out the Irish scoring with a 36-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter.
Shuler’s play provided a late-game highlight for the Irish defense, with sophomore linebacker Drake Bowen making a career-high nine tackles all over the field. Freshman cornerback Leonard Moore also had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups in his second career start.
Notre Dame moved the ball into Georgia Tech’s territory on its second possession of the game, but Leonard beat a deep route into the Yellow Jackets’ end zone, but the defense intercepted it and returned it to the 29-yard line.
Georgia Tech drove into Notre Dame territory, at the Irish 4-yard line, and got a first down. The Yellow Jackets fumbled the ball as they tried to break through the line for a score, received an advantageous bounce, and their running backs recovered the ball on the end zone line for a touchdown.
Notre Dame tied the game on its next drive, scored by Jeremiah Love early in the series. Love gained 25 yards on three consecutive plays with two runs and a reception, followed by a tight end screen from Mitchell Evans that moved the ball deep into the GT area. The Yellow Jackets stepped up for a third down with three yards left to the 13-yard line. Leonard broke the blitz with a quick pass out to Aneyas Williams in the flat, who struggled to the 3-yard line. Three plays later, Leonard powered in to tie the game at 7-7.
The Irish defense quickly put the ball back into the hands of the offense with a three-and-out. The ensuing drive was keyed by Love and Chris Mitchell, who made consecutive catches and runs to move the ball to the Georgia Tech 29. Leonard then found Beau Collins on successive plays for an 11-yard gain and a goal. Yellow Jackets 11-yard line and a two-minute warning before halftime.
On the next play, Leonard kept the ball on an option play on the right side and ran directly into the end zone for his 10th rushing point of the season. In the game, Leonard became the third Notre Dame quarterback to score double-digit touchdowns in a season (Brandon Wimbush, 14 in 2017, DeShone Kiser, 10 in 2015).
Georgia Tech looked for a potential score before halftime and went for a 39-yard field goal, but Holder misplayed a high snap and the Irish defense suffocated the kicker for a 16-yard loss and the team lost. We were able to go into halftime. With a 7 point lead.
After the break, the Irish defense immediately got a three-and-out, giving the offense the advantage. Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for 28 yards to drive into Georgia Tech’s territory, and the Irish made three consecutive runs for two first downs. Collins ran a nice diagonal route to put the ball on the 1-yard line, and Love finished the drive and dove straight into the end zone, putting the Irish up 21-7.
The Yellow Jackets got one first down on their next possession, but the Irish defense forced another punt, pushing the Yellow Jackets back to third-and-20 after two false start penalties on the night.
Notre Dame would get a few first downs on its next drive, but the Yellow Jackets ended up forcing a punt and trying to gain some momentum with a 60-yard catch and run all the way to the Irish 16-yard line.
However, the Irish defense showed no mercy. A 3-yard rush, a Jayden Ausberry tackle for loss, and a Riley Mills sack led to another field goal attempt for GT. The sack was the second sack allowed by the Yellow Jacket offense in 2024.
Freshman Bryce Young blocked a field goal attempt, and Notre Dame held a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Irish defense continued to get stops, but for the time being, the Yellow Jackets defense matched. Leonard was stopped on the verge of a fourth-down play, but Xavier Watts quickly ended the next Georgia Tech drive with his 10th career interception.
It looked like Notre Dame would be stopped again, but Irish special teams turned it around with a reverse fake punt to Love for 27 yards. Eventually, Zach Yoakam made his first career field goal from 42 yards to go, pushing the Irish up 24-7.
With Georgia Tech desperately trying to rebuild the game late in the fourth quarter, Adon Shuler caught an overthrown pass at the 36-yard line and returned it for a touchdown, ending Notre Dame’s 31st straight score.
Georgia Tech scored a touchdown against Notre Dame’s reserves with 23 seconds left, making the final score 31-14.
