Tag: Xavier Watts

Notre Dame statistical leaders through nine games

Here’s who to watch for in the next game.

Notre Dame is riding high after winning its past couple of games. Now, it will visit a Clemson team that looks nothing like it did the past few years. The Irish have to feel pretty good about their chances. Wouldn’t you?

Here are the statistical leaders for the Irish heading into November:

Social media reacts to Xavier Watts’ two first-half interceptions

That’s six picks for him this season.

Christian Veilleux had to know [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] would be one of his biggest challenges when he led Pittsburgh’s offense against Notre Dame. He most certainly did not have two first-half interceptions by Watts in mind. Yet that’s exactly what happened, and they both set up all 14 points scored by the Irish’s offense in the half. The Irish led, 17-0, at the break.

Watts’ first pick set up the touchdown by [autotag]Audric Estime[/autotag]:

This one set up a chip-shot field goal for [autotag]Spencer Shrader[/autotag] right before halftime:

You have to give Watts mad props for emerging as perhaps the one Irish defender you absolutely do not want to mess around with. If you don’t have a half-decent offense, which is the case for the Panthers, players like Watts will make you pay. Watts has done just that, and he’s going to be a major reason the ride back to the Steel City will be a long one.

Here is what social media is saying about Watts:

Social media reacts to Audric Estime’s touchdown vs. Pittsburgh

What a back the Irish fan.

After [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] intercepted Christian Veilleux to give Notre Dame the ball back, [autotag]Audric Estime[/autotag] made sure it was his drive. Estime carved up the Pittsburgh defense with a 33-yard run on the first play of that drive. Only three plays later, Estime had a 15-yard carry that was enough to put him in the end zone and give the Irish a 14-0 lead:

We’re in the last game of October, and Estime has reached double figures in touchdowns. Whatever the Irish do the rest of the season, he will have a lot to do with it.

Just like [autotag]Kyren Williams[/autotag] before him, Estime has had a couple of seasons in which the opposition has tried in vain to stop him despite planning for what he might do. The Irish are fortunate to have him.

Here’s how some Irish fans felt when they took to social media to celebrate Estime’s touchdown:

Notre Dame statistical leaders through eight games

In case you forgot after the week off.

Notre Dame has had an extra week to enjoy the blow it dealt to USC’s season. Now, it’s back to business with Pittsburgh coming to South Bend. With the gauntlet portion of the schedule behind the Irish, this hopefully will be the easiest game they’ve had to look forward to in a month.

For those who need refreshing after the week off, here are the Irish’s major statistical leaders:

Notre Dame shocks, routs USC: Remarkable photos from memorable night

Incredible photos from an incredible night in South Bend that saw Notre Dame blow out previously undefeated USC.

On Saturday, Notre Dame gained a much-needed victory against its biggest rival. The Fighting Irish defense set the tone early, often and all night against the Trojans.

By the end of the game, Notre Dame had blown out USC, 48-20, in a game the Irish made the proper response whenever it appeared to be getting interesting.

The win puts Notre Dame back in the win column and the fashion in which it came gives Irish fans hope that a New Year’s Six bowl game isn’t out of question.

It was a night Xavier Watts will not soon forget. The Notre Dame safety put on the performance of a lifetime with two interceptions, a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown and seven tackles.

For USC, it was a night to forget. Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, threw three first-half interceptions and never really found his rhythm.

All together it was a memorable night in South Bend. Check out some fantastic photos from that night below.

Notre Dame blows out USC, 48-20: Instant Takeaways

A thorough butt kicking that was desperately needed!

After falling in embarrassing fashion a week ago at Louisville you wondered what kind of team would show up for Notre Dame as they hosted USC on Saturday night.  As it turns out, it was one that dominated on defense, did enough on offense, and came up with a huge special teams play en-route to a blowout victory.

The win puts an end to USC’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff, a feather in the cap for Notre Dame after what has been an up-and-down year through eight games.

Notre Dame moves to 6-2 overall with the victory.  Let’s discuss some instant thoughts from the 41-20 win.

Social media reacts to Xavier Watts’ scoop-and-score for Notre Dame

What a night for the kid.

[autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] will not forget this game. The Notre Dame safety knew his team had to show a complete effort against USC. He provided that and then some. Not only did he have two interceptions to set up touchdowns, but he picked up a ball that [autotag]Cam Hart[/autotag] knocked out of Mario Williams’ hands and ran it to the end zone:

They say that to the winner goes the spoils, and Watts deserves every bit of them. Everyone on the Irish had a good game, but this was the perfect exclamation point to as good a night as a safety can have. Whatever Watts gets as a result of this game, he’ll cherish it for sure.

Irish fans are celebrating, and it’s not unwarranted in the least. This win was huge. There were many things to celebrate about this contest, but let’s focus only on tweets that came from this Watts score:

Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts adds fumble recovery TD return to 2 interceptions

Xavier Watts of Notre Dame had a career game against USC

Xavier Watts appeared to want some Heisman consideration on Saturday as his Notre Dame Fighting Irish destroyed USC, 48-20, in South Bend.

Watts picked off reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams twice.

He iced the romp by picking up a fumble and returning it for a touchdown that gave Notre Dame its final score.

Williams had another off-game, menaced by the Fighting Irish defense.

He was 23-of-37 for 199 yards with 1 TD pass and 3 picks.

Watch: Caleb Williams throws 3 first half interceptions at Notre Dame

Not one, not two….

If you’ve listened to any sports radio in Chicago the last week the talk of Caleb Williams coming to South Bend to showcase his talents in front of Bears brass was brought up more than once.

Understandably so.  Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and is off to an incredible start for 2023.

You could say that Williams looked the part of a Chicago Bear in the first half.  He ended the first half completing 13-22 passing attempts for 115 yards and three interceptions.

Williams had thrown just one interception all year entering the contest.

See all three which all led to Notre Dame touchdowns below as the Irish took a 24-6 lead to halftime.

Social media reacts to three Notre Dame touchdowns off interceptions

This is a rather pleasant development.

Notre Dame knew it would have to stop Caleb Williams to have a chance against USC. Williams had thrown two interceptions in a game only once during his collegiate career.

That changed in only the first half as [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] picked up two of Williams’ passes and [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] one. All three picks led to touchdowns, the last two of which were scored by [autotag]Audric Estime[/autotag]:

Obviously, the Irish can’t afford to take the pressure off Williams. If there’s anyone who can lead his team back from a 24-6 halftime deficit, it’s him. But for now, the Irish have to be very pleased with the mistakes they’ve forced from the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Joining in the merriment are Irish fans on social media. This is the moment where happiness needs to be expressed, and they’ve done a good job of that. Here are some of the best tweets we were able to find: