NEW ORLEANS — It had been a unique week in New Orleans with the shadow of a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street blanketing the festivities leading up to the New Year and with it the 91st Sugar Bowl.
Despite the turmoil as well as the hype surrounding the game, which was delayed 20 hours due to the attack, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish did what has been a rarity in the last decade for this team: win on the big stage.
On the heels of a gritty defensive effort, just enough explosive plays from the special teams, and finesse on offense late in the game, the Irish were able to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 inside the Caesars Superdome Thursday.
“As we celebrate this great moment, certainly want to send out condolences to the community of New Orleans,” said head coach Marcus Freeman, acknowledging the terror attack. “But, I’m so proud of this group. The did an excellent job executing.”
The execution was in the unique places of a football team: the defense and special teams.
As the 1st half was winding down Notre Dame and Georgia were tied at 3-3. The Irish marched into field goal range where Mitch Jeter, one of the statistically worst kickers in the country this season, hit a second field goal to give the Irish a 6-3 lead.
The Irish seemed set to enter halftime with a three-point lead. But, as Georgia commenced on a half-ending drive, the Irish defense sacked and forced Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton to fumble the ball which was recovered by Notre Dame.
This was Stockton’s first-ever start in a college football game with the injury to regular Bulldog starter Carson Beck.
Irish quarterback Riley Leonard then hit Jordan Fason in the endzone for a touchdown on the very next play, giving the Irish a 13-3 lead at the half.
“The defense is a reflection of the entire team,” Freeman said. “Competitors find a way.”
Getting the ball to start the second half, the Irish special teams decided to get right to the point. Irish kick returner Jayden Harrison took the second-half kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown. It’s the longest post-season kickoff return for a touchdown in Notre Dame history.
Down 20-3, Georgia was in trouble and they and their fans knew it. So much so that the Bulldogs kept battling back as on the next drive for Georgia, Stockton hit the tedious running back in Cash Jones for a touchdown.
Jeter would add another field goal early in the 4th quarter.
The main thing Notre Dame really had to overcome in this game was themselves. Notre Dame was charged with 10 penalties for 75 yards. Some of those penalties came in situations where the Notre Dame defense had Georgia stopped.
Still, the Irish forced two turnovers and stopped Georgia twice on fourth down in the second half. This gave the ball back to the offense which milked seven minutes off the clock. It was crucial. So much so that Leonard lept and spun through the air to get a first down on one play.
“When you are struggling in the passing game, you got to put your body on the line,” said Leonard, who finished the game with just 88 yards passing and a touchdown along with 80 yards rushing.
This left Georgia with no timeouts and not enough time to mount a comeback.
“I knew this would be a 60-minute game because (Georgia) never stops,” Freeman said. “We found a way and these boys deserve it. You put time and effort into utilizing that third phase and they got the job done.
The win is Notre Dame’s 12 win in a row which is the longest winning streak in the country. It is also their 13th win this season, which is a new school record for wins in a single season.
The Irish are still alive in the College Football Playoff with the victory as they have earned the right to take on Penn State next Thursday in the Orange Bowl.
The CFP semifinals are set as Texas and Ohio State will face each other in the other semifinal.