The Notre Dame Fighting Irish retained the Shillelagh Trophy today in South Bend, but the Boilermakers didn't go down without a fight! After Riley Leonard threw a red zone interception on Notre Dame's first possession, S Rod Heard II picked of Purdue QB H. Card for a 52 yard pick 6 to put the Irish out in front. Card didn't fold however, instead he immediately connected to Jahmal Edrine for a 69 yard touchdown to tie the game in the 1st. Unfortunately for Purdue, ND return specialist Gi'Bran Payne took the ensuing kickoff from endzone to endzone, for a 102yd TD, to put Notre Dame right back in front.
After watching 2 heavyweights slug each other in the face for the first quarter, Notre Dame seemed to have Purdue wobbled. The Boilermakers pulled within 10-14 thanks to a 41 yard Spencer Porath FG, which was immediately answered by Mitch Jeter from 32 yards. Then the Notre Dame defense cranked up the intensity. A quick stop of the Boilermakers was followed by a 9 yard touchdown run from HB J. Love and then another haymaker landed after Card led Purdue down the field, only to be picked off for an 88 yard pick 6 with just seconds remaining in the half, putting Notre Dame up 31-10.
The second half was all Purdue as QB Hudson Card and HB Devin Mockobee started to find some holes in the Notre Dame defense. They rallied for 24pts in the 2nd half, but a late possession that included 2 nifty catch and runs from Jeremiyah Love was capped with a 1yd Love TD run . One final drive ended with CJ Smith finding paydirt for the Boilermakers, but time slipped away from Notre Dame's Jaden Greathouse secured the onside attempt. Final 41-34 Notre Dame!
Coach Reign: "Great battle from the Boilermakers today. To find themselves down 21 at half and rally in the 2nd half to get within a score here in South Bend is nothing to hang your head about. The Big 10 is going to have their hands full this season with Coach Razorback and the Boilermakers. The Shillelagh is staying in South Bend for another season, but we know the return trip to West Lafayette is going to war next season!"
When you travel to South Bend, you always have to make sure you look and play your best. Traveling into then den of the Leprechaun is no easy feat and it proved that way again for this Purdue squad. The raucous noise of the Notre Dame fans rattled Purdue time and again in the first half as they found themselves down and out early to their perennial power rival.
Down 31-10 at the half, it looked like Purdue had packed it in and would go home with nothing but brokens dreams and interception records. Nothing could go right for Purdue in the second quarter as they watched Notre Dame rush up and down the field as they scored multiple ways. Interception returns, kickoff returns, deep passes. All for touchdowns that kept extending the lead for this top 5 team.
However, Coach Razor would not let his boys go down without a fight. What is considered a rivalry game if it's just a one-sided affair? A firecracker of a halftime speech along with some key adjustments to the offensive gameplan led to a completely different team in the second half. When Hudson Card plays calm and focused football, he's one of the top QBs in the league. For one half in South Bend, he proved that for all the country to see.
Card exploded in the second half with three touchdowns and over 250 yards passing against the Irish. The rally was a sight to see as the Boilermakers outscored Notre Dame 24-10 in the second half. Unfortunately for Purdue and their fanbase that made the trip to South Bend, they just eventually ran out of time.
After getting to within 7 with a minute left to go in the game, Notre Dame recovered Purdue's last ditch onside kick and was able to kneel out the clock and take the victory. It was the Boilermaker's best performance of the season and one that they can take many lessons away from as they head into conference play.
0-3 is not the way we wanted to start the season with games against Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oregon looming but we walk away with our heads held high and confidence that we can play with the best this season.
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