[2024] Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stories – Week 9 Recap & Week 10 Prep

[LordLittlebutt]

This article was originally published June 24, 2024, in The Observer, a student run publication serving the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Re-posted on delay as agreed to with co-editors J.J. Jameson, P. White, reporters V. Vale, L. Lane and photographer J. Olsen, Jr. Photographer P. Parker.  

Shake down the thunder from the sky

 

Notre Dame hosted Ball State this past Saturday.  Turning in the first loss for the Irish this season, Notre Dame moved their record to 8-1.  We’ll provide a recap of the scoring drives, talk to Coach about the bye week and the results of this weekend’s game and peek in on the recruiting status.

Week 9 – Game Statistics

Team	Points	Total Yards	Passing Yards	Rushing Yards	Passing TDs	Rushing TDs	INT
BALL	31	509	343	162	1	2	0
ND	28	561	448	113	3	1	2

 

Notre Dame kicked off to begin the contest. Starting on their own 27, the Cardinals could muster only a pair of short completions, but aided by a defensive pass interference call, set up with first and 10 on their 45 yard line. Facing third and sixteen, Ball State successfully completed a short pass, and breaking out a 43 yard advance to the Notre Dame 18. On the very next play an inside run put the Cardinals on the board with a touchdown. This was only the second opening series score against the Irish this season.

Ball State 7 – Notre Dame 0

 

After the kickoff the Irish converted a pair of first downs but was forced to punt from their own 48 yard line. Ball State converted a pair of their own first downs and found themselves with fourth and eight yards to go on the Irish 25 yard line. With little confidence in their field goal kicker’s range, they opted to punt and Notre Dame took over on their own 20 yard line. The Irish again found themselves with a fourth down at their 48 and punted the ball back to the Cardinals.  Following an fair catch at their own 7, Ball State could only generate 20 yards in six plays and was forced to punt from their own 27. The Irish hit a 5 yard quick pass to sit at their own 46 but the Cardinals intercepted the next pass attempt and moved to the Irish 8 yard line before the Notre Dame defense stiffened and forced a field goal attempt, which was good.

Ball State 10 – Notre Dame 0

 

Notre Dame started on their 34 yard line after a nice Josh Gaudin return. Four plays later Guadin would haul in a 46 yard bomb to get the Irish on the scoreboard.

Ball State 10 – Notre Dame 7

 

Ball State went three and out, and the Irish took over on their 24. An impressive mix of runs, screens and short passes moved the ball to midfield before Notre Dame was forced to punt. Knifing from the outside the Cardinals managed to block the punt and recover the ball on the Irish 26 yard line. Again the Notre Dame defense stiffened, forcing a successful field goal attempt from the Irish 21 yard line.

Ball State 13 – Notre Dame 7

 

Notre Dame moved the ball from their 30 to the Cardinal 21 yard line with 8 seconds left in the first half. After a timeout where the Irish contemplated a field goal try, the offense was sent onto the field and a short pass to TE Torrey Barbato was completed and the Ball State defense did a masterful job of bringing him down on the 10 yard line, just inside the right sideline – allowing time to expire in the half.

Ball State 13 – Notre Dame 7

 

The start of the second half showed both Notre Dame and Ball State trade punts twice, until the Irish started a possession on their 20 with 9:18 left in the quarter. On first and 10 from their own 33, RB Zaire Philon motioned out of the backfield and down the left sideline, easily outpacing the defender. QB Izaah Plawecki hit Philon in stride and 60 yard completion put the ball on the Cardinal 7 yard line. Barbato caught and quick slant to the inside and after initially being ruled across the goal line, the challenge flag was thrown and the points taken off the board. After another pass attempt fell incomplete, Philon took the ball around the right edge to cross the goal line. With the extra point converted, Notre Dame gained the lead for the first time in the game.

Notre Dame 14 – Ball State 13

 

Ball State started their next possession on their own 28 and immediately moved out to their 47 on a long completion. The Cardinals nudged the ball over midfield, but were forced to punt from the Notre Dame 49. Notre Dame took over on their 17, and proceeded to methodically move the ball down field. Three immediate completions followed by five straight runs put the ball on the Cardinal 34. A quick pass to Philon out of the backfield netted 13 yards, with the Irish running a no huddle play that delivered a 21 yard strike to Barbato for another Irish touchdown!

Notre Dame 21 – Ball State 13

 

Starting at their 24, Ball State hit on a 29 yard quick pass, to short pass completions and then a monster 33 yard completion to get to the Irish 3 yard line. After failing to make any headway on a screen pass, the Cardinals went back to the same play for a touchdown. A converted 2 point run up the middle tied the score with 2 seconds left in the third quarter.

Notre Dame 21 – Ball State 21

 

After another good Gaudin kick return, Notre Dame started at their 34 yard line. After an incompletion on a screen, Plawecki threw his second interception of the day, setting up the Cardinals on the Notre Dame 47. Ball State moved the ball to the Irish 29, but a sack on second and one moved them back to the 35. With only a 5 yard completion, Ball State was forced to punt. Notre Dame went three-and-out and punted to the Ball State 45. The Cardinals could only muster 5 yards on 3 plays and had to punt. Notre Dame drove from their 20 to the Ball State 3 yard line, highlights included a 23 yard long pass to WR Derrick Muno, 11 and 12 yard completions to Barbato and an 8 yard run by Philon. The Irish capped of the scoring drive with a 3 yard strike to Gaudin.

Notre Dame 28 – Ball State 21

 

Notre Dame excitement proved to be short lived, as on the first play from scrimmage the Cardinals ripped off a 74 yard outside run to the Notre Dame 1 yard line. On the following play, Ball State evened the score once again on another run around the left side.

Notre Dame 28 – Ball State 28

 

Notre Dame drove to the Cardinal 36 before having to punt with 5:14 left in the game. Ball State went three-and-out, setting the Irish up on their 29. The Irish could only manage 6 yards before a pair of incomplete passes meant another Notre Dame punt, the eighth of the day and the most in a game so far this season.  The Cardinals started their last drive on their own 34, with 3:16 remaining in this tied game. Stuffed for a 3 yard loss on their first play, and a well defended pass on second down, Ball State had 3 and 13 from their 31 ahead of a crucial play call. The Cardinals went deep and connected for a stunning 51 yard gain to put the ball at the Notre Dame 18. They could only manage 5 yards on three plays and were sitting at the Irish 13 with a minute and a half left in the game. The 30 yard field goal attempt sailed through and Ball State reclaimed the lead.

Ball State 31 – Notre Dame 28

 

Fielded at the 6 yard line, CB Brandon Astudillo returned the ball to the Notre Dame 34 to start their drive. Three straight completions moved the Irish to the Cardinal 38, but only 31 seconds remained in the game. Too far for a reliable field goal try, the Irish ran a screen to move into tying position. Netting only 2 yards, the game clock would expire on the Irish hopes as the final pass could only move Notre Dame to the 36 yard line as time ran out.

Ball State 31 – Notre Dame 28

 

Notre Dame Top Performers Week 9

Player & Position	Attempts	Yards Gained	TDs
QB – Izaah Plawecki	43 of 60 for 71.67% compl	448	3
RB – Zhaire Philon	20 rushes	100	1
RB – Zhaire Philon	15 catches on 21 targets	131	0
WR – Josh Gaudin	9 catches on 10 targets	143	2
TE – Torrey Barbato	13 catches on 16 targets	124	1

 

Notre Dame Season Leaders – 9 games

Player & Position	Attempts	Yards Gained	TDs
QB – Izaah Plawecki	273 of 379 for 72.0% compl	3807	35
RB – Zhaire Philon	146 rushes	781	11
RB – Zhaire Philon	69 catches on 86 targets	547	5
WR – Josh Gaudin	71 catches on 90 targets	1312	7
TE – Torrey Barbato	68 catches on 85 targets	994	18

 

The Observer caught up with Notre Dame head coach LordLittlebutt to talk about the game, what’s coming next week and any developments on the recruiting side.

 

TheO:    Well, Coach – the first loss of the season, but a very exciting game.

LLB:        Like Navy, we started behind and came back, but this time we ended up short. The guys played hard, and really did great. We tried a couple things in the offensive game plan that didn’t work out, but we’ll learn and move on. Those interceptions really hurt.

TheO:    What effect do you think the bye had on the game?

LLB:        We were certainly humming along through the first 8 games, but we focused on this opponent in the bye week and worked on things that we normally do, so I think in the end the bye didn’t have much of an impact.

TheO:    At 8-1 and with 3 games to go, how do you think the last quarter of the season goes?

LLB:        I really think it will be like the first parts of the season. We’re away for Fresno State next week, then home for Hawaii before finishing at USC. These are all critical games. We need to refine our form, have the coaches buckle down on evaluations and game planning and come away with 3 wins.

TheO:    Any concern with the double bye week before USC?

LLB:        I think we are going to stick with our plan to provide some time for the guys to get some rest and relaxation, be sure everyone is 100% and refocus for the big USC game and beyond.

TheO:    And you’ve got a trip to Fresno and Hawaii coming in before that.

LLB:        Yes, we certainly are not looking past anything. This trip out west will be an opportunity to get things back on track, and we certainly have high expectations for the next 2 weeks.

TheO:    How about on the recruiting side?

LLB:        We are hitting that hard. There are a couple blue chips we are pretty close on, I think. Beyond that we’ve been focusing on filling out spots with the best available talent. We had some good trips over the bye week and should be close to signing several great players.

TheO:    As always Coach, thanks for spending some time with us.

LLB:        My pleasure, Vicky. GO IRISH!!