Pretty easy
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
It was a gorgeous day in South Bend for the final home game of the year, and Notre Dame cruised through without too many issues for a 45-7 win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Notre Dame had a three and out and a missed field goal to start the game, but on the third possession, Sam Hartman connected with Devyn Ford on a 12 yard wheel route to cap a short 41 yard drive. Wake Forest answered on the next drive, however, as they put together a 9 play 71 yard drive that had multiple trick plays that were called — and they went into the endzone via a 9 yard run by Tate Carney.
The Irish answered the Wake Forest touchdown with another touchdown drive of their own. Jadarian Price set the Irish up with good field position on the kickoff return, and ultimately, Sam Hartman hooked up with Tobias Merriweather for a 35 yard touchdown strike.
Notre Dame got the ball back with 90 seconds to go in the first half, but some terrible clock management forced a 47 yard field goal to go into the half up 17-7.
Notre Dame kicked off to WF to start the 3rd quarter, but on the first play of the half, JD Bertrand forced a sack fumble and Rylie Mills jumped on top if it. On the very next play, Sam Hartman found tight end Eli Raridon in the endzone to go up 24-7.
The Irish recovered an onside kick right after the Raridon score, but after quickly putting themselves in a 3rd and 11 situation — the play call was a handoff to GiBran Payne.
Of course it doesn’t make sense.
The Irish defense didn’t blink and the Demon Deacons could never get much of anything going. The Irish got an Audric Estime touchdown run in the third quarter to go up 31-7. Estime is now over 1000 yards for the season after another 100+ yard day on the ground.
If you were worried about there not being enough play-action in the playcalling, the Raridon touchdown was one and a 48 yard catch and run by Jaden Greathouse was another to put the tally at 38-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Sam Hartman tallied 277 yards (21-29) and 4 touchdowns before he exited the game for Steve Angeli.
Angeli hooked up with Jordan Faison for another Irish touchdown to make it 45-7 with less than 4 minutes to play.
More to come on OFD.
