Big League Chewed: Notre Dame Routs Stanford, 58-7
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Jonaz Walton and Nolan James Jr. scored twice each amidst a 361-yard Notre Dame rushing performance as the Irish dismantled Stanford, 58-7, on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
Walton set a freshman rushing record for a single game with 181 total yards on 13 carries, eclipsing Josh Adams’ 168-yard performance against the 2015 Cardinal squad.
The Irish asserted their dominance immediately, with defensive end Boubacar Traore separating Stanford signal caller Warren Davis from the ball on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, James Jr. had scampered into the end zone to give the Irish a lead they would never relinquish.
The Irish scored on five consecutive drives in the first and second quarters, capitalizing on Stanford’s sloppiness to rack up 320 yards of first-half offense. Traore was once again the catalyst, intercepting Davis on the Cardinal’s fifth drive to set up a Spencer Porath 33-yard field goal.
The Cardinal were 0-for-7 on third downs in the first half, and never eclipsed the Irish’s 47 yard line before the mid-third quarter.
Three Irish running backs found the end zone in the first half, with Walton conjuring memories of Jeremiyah Love with a 97 yard explosion that gave the Irish a 20-0 lead. James Jr., a sophomore, found six for the second time with a 31-yard breeze past the Cardinal defense to make the game 30-0. And junior Aneyas Williams completed the trifecta with a 70-yard catch-and-run to give the Irish a 37-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Irish quarterback C.J. Carr connected on a 30-yard strike to Elijah Burress, giving the sophomore his first career collegiate touchdown. Stanford responded with its first sign of life, a five-play, 75-yard drive that capitalized off an Adon Shuler blown coverage and a Jaiden Ausberry stumble to score seven.
Walton continued the scoring by, once again, demonstrating his separation ability, zooming 40 yards to keep the 39 1/2 point spread covered. Freshman Javian Osborne closed the scoring with a 3-yard rush to cap a 16-play, 90-yard drive helmed by backup Noah Grubbs. Like Burress, it was Osborne’s first time hitting paydirt on the college level.
Carr finished with 14-of-20 for 181 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions. The Irish scored on eight of 11 possessions with their starter under center, including the two play drive before the clock turned to zeroes before halftime.
Drayk Bowen led all Irish with 6 tackles, while safety Luke Talich added five of his own. The Irish held the Cardinal to 2-for-11 on third downs and 202 total yards.
Jaden Greathouse led all receivers with 3 catches, one of which went for a touchdown. Williams had the most total receiving yards on Saturday: 70.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos