It looked like the Notre Dame offense found the spark it needed. With the running game practically nonexistent for the first five regulation quarters of the season, there suddenly was reason think that would be the unit snap the Irish of of their funk. However, it took one bad play in the final minute to cancel that progress out, and the Irish trail Toledo, 16-14, at halftime.
The Rockets, looking for a field goal to give them their first lead of the game, came close to that possibility. However, Isaiah Foskey sacked Carter Bradley for a 10-yard loss, though it ultimately set up a Bailey Flint punt that pinned the Irish at their own 4-yard line. If the offense was going to snap out of it now, it would have to do so with almost the whole field ahead. Enter Tyler Buchner, who was inserted at quarterback for his first game action since his junior year of high school in 2019.
All Buchner did was roll out to the right for a 26-yard gain on his first play. He then ran for an additional 11 yards, then hit Braden Lenzy for a 15-yard completion a couple of plays later. The drive concluded on the next play when Kyren Williams busted through traffic on the right side for a 43-yard touchdown. It was nice teamwork led by a unlikely duo.
When the Irish took the ball back after a Rockets three-and-out, Jack Coan returned to action. After he threw an incomplete pass on third-and-1, the offense stayed on the field to go for it despite being on its own 40-yard line. Chris Tyree got stuffed, and the Rockets got the ball back with terrific field position.
The ensuing defensive possession started out disastrous for the Irish. A couple of penalties first kept the drive going, then gave the Rockets a first-and-goal at the 2. Things looked better when Kyle Hamilton tackled Bryant Koback for a 3-yard loss. The Irish then caught a break when a Bradley pass went through Bryce Mitchell’s hands in the end zone, and Thomas Cluckey came out to kick his third field goal.
With the Irish hoping to get points before halftime, the worst possible thing happened. Coan was intercepted by Chris McDonald, who returned the ball 27 yards to the house with nobody in front of him, and the Rockets had the lead. What a momentum shift in South Bend. The Irish had one last possession to try and score before the clock hit zero, but nothing came of it.
Not much you can say right now. Here’s hoping the second half goes much better.