notre dame highlights – Syndication Server

Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Xavier Watts seals the deal at USC with record-setting pick-six

Notre Dame seals the win thanks to Xavier Watts going 100 yards.

Although [autotag]Christian Gray’s[/autotag] 99-yard pick-six appeared to seal the deal for No. 5 Notre Dame against the USC Trojans, there was still enough time left that it was possible, if not likely, that the Trojans could get two scores and tie the ball game.

Fighting Irish safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] said “nah” to all that.

Watts stepped in front of a [autotag]Jayden Maiava[/autotag] pass in the end zone and took it the entire 100 yards for a pick-six touchdown — the second one of that length in Notre Dame history.

It was one drive after Gray’s 99-yard pick-six.

Notre Dame will likely be headed to the College Football Playoff after the second pick-six all but snuffed out a USC comeback.

The Irish did concede another USC touchdown by playing soft in the final minute, but USC didn’t have enough time to get another two scores — which it would need just to tie.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates picking up a Virginia fumble during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Christian Gray’s pick-six at USC spells redemption

Notre Dame’s Christian Gray may have redeemed himself after a tough day in Southern California.

Notre Dame cornerback [autotag]Christian Gray[/autotag] has been picked on by the USC Trojans all day.

Now he may have saved a playoff berth for the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a 99-yard pick-six.

The Trojans have had success with long passes all day and they were in the midst of a possible game-tying drive when the intended receiver fell down and Gray plucked the pass out of the air.

Gray managed to keep his knee off the ground and weaved his way to the end zone. There was a penalty on the play but it was assessed to USC.

If Notre Dame holds on for the win, Gray’s play will obviously be huge.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) and cornerback Christian Gray (29) celebrate Louisville coming up short on a fourth down during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Louisville at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Riley Leonard finds Mitchell Evans for key TD

Notre Dame got a key TD catch from Mitchell Evans.

Notre Dame and USC are engaged in a shootout in Los Angeles, but the No. 5 Fighting Irish have given themselves a little bit of separation after quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] found tight end [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] for a 23-yard touchdown reception.

The score, and the preceding drive, followed a stand by the Irish defense after Leonard tossed an ill-advised interception. USC had a shot to tie the game, but failed to convert on fourth down.

Notre Dame responded with a 3-play, 62-yard drive that burned 1:06 off the clock and ended in the Leonard-to-Mitchell connection.

The pass followed a 35-yard run by [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag].

Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans (88) jumps up to make a catch that would later be ruled incomplete during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Riley Leonard’s legs carry Irish into end zone at USC

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has another rushing touchdown.

Notre Dame quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] is as much of a running threat as the running backs he shares a backfield with.

Leonard gave the lead back to the No. 5 Fighting Irish as they take on the USC Trojans on the road.

He did it with a 2-yard touchdown run that ended a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took 2:39 off the clock. He also had a 24-yard scamper on the drive.

Notre Dame is in a back-and-forth battle with USC in Los Angeles.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quaterback Riley Leonard (13) throws a pass against the Army Black Knights during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Jadarian Price gives Jeremiyah Love a break, races to the house

Notre Dame gets an early second-half touchdown from Jadarian Price.

After Notre Dame running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] had a relatively routine 5-yard run, he was pulled from the game to get a breather. Fellow running back [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag] got the call on the next play and took it 36 yards to the house.

This all came on No. 5 Notre Dame’s first drive of the second half at USC.

The run ended a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took 2:22 off of the clock.

Love and Price have been a potent 1-2 punch in the Fighting Irish backfield all season, and once again the two have combined to do some damage.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) scores a rushing touchdown as Army Black Knights defensive back Josiah Banks (25) and defensive lineman Cody Winokur (93) pursue during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight — risky fake punt call pays off against USC

Notre Dame fakes a punt successfully at USC.

Calling a fake punt deep in your own territory, in a tie game, on the road, is a risky proposition. Heck, fake punts are almost always risky propositions.

Yet the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled one off on the road against the USC Trojans in the second quarter.

Facing fourth-down-and-nine from their own 26-yard line, the Irish had [autotag]Tyler Buchner[/autotag] take the snap and pass. He found tight end [autotag]Mitchell Evans [/autotag]wide open for 18 yards and the drive stayed alive.

Unfortunately for the Irish, the drive ended with a missed chip-shot field goal from kicker [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag], who has been playing hurt.

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner enters the transfer portal with a caveat — SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Tyler Buchner #12 of Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Football Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

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Notre Dame Week 13 highlight — Aneyas Williams to the house

Aneyas Williams joins the RB party in the Bronx.

No. 6 Notre Dame is thrashing No. 18 Army at Yankee Stadium tonight.

That hasn’t stopped the Fighting Irish from scoring — Aneyas Williams took the ball 58 yards to the house on the first play after Army turned it over on downs.

That gave the Irish a 49-7 lead with 10:40 to go in the game.

It’s the 100th anniversary of the “Four Horsemen” game, so perhaps it’s fitting that the Irish backfield has done a lot of damage against Army in the Bronx.

Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams warms up during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 13 highlight — Jadarian Price has a double at Yankee Stadium

Jadarian Price is on the board for the second time.

Notre Dame running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] has some competition from his backfield mate [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag]. While Love has three touchdowns for the No. Fighting Irish against the No. 18 Army Black Knights, Price has two.

His second was a 10-yard run that appeared to be stuffed initially before Price worked his way loose and bounced it outside. The score finished off an 8-play, 57-yard drive that took 3:33 off the clock and ended with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Backup quarterback [autotag]Steve Angeli[/autotag] helmed the drive with starter [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] resting since the game is well in hand for the Irish.

Notre Dame’s dominates Florida State, extending its winning streak — Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) scores a touchdown during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 13 highlight — Jeremiyah Love has a hat trick

Jeremiyah Love has found the end zone three times tonight.

That’s three touchdowns for Notre Dame running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] against Army.

The No. 6 Fighting Irish have leaned on Love against the No. 18 Black Knights on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

Love leaped for a receiving touchdown early, kept his streak of games with a rushing TD alive later and now he’s broken the big one. That’s a 68-yard rush for a score on the first play of the second half.

The touchdown gave Notre Dame a cushion against Army coming out of halftime.

Jeremiyah Love has two TDs against Virginia. — Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) hands the ball off to running back Jeremiyah Love (4) during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 13 highlight — Forced fumble before half kills Army drive

A fumble before halftime sums up Army’s night against Notre Dame so far.

After No. 6 Notre Dame punched the ball into the end zone late in the first half against No. 18 Army, courtesy of running back [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag], the Black Knights did have a chance to mount a scoring drive before halftime.

The Fighting Irish prevented that from happening, however, when cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] forced Army quarterback [autotag]Bryson Daily[/autotag] to fumble. Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] recovered.

The Irish failed to capitalize, however, when kicker [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] pushed a 48-yard field-goal attempt wide right. Jeter has been dealing with a groin injury.