4. The turning point of the game
Trailing 7-3 and facing a third-and-10 on his 28 with 4:27 to play in the first half, Ian Book tried to find Javon McKinley to extend the drive. The pass fell incomplete, and it appeared the Irish defense would be called upon to keep the deficit at four points before the half.
A flag was thrown on Syracuse’s Kingsley Jonathan for roughing the passer, however, and it was all downhill from there. Book capped the drive three plays later with a 28-yard touchdown run.
Book ended up connecting with McKinley twice before halftime to build a 24-7 lead in a 4:30 span that calmed the worries of Notre Dame fans quickly.
A key offensive cog finally finds the end zone…