SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame’s 18th-ranked football team dominated the Boston College Eagles, to earn a 44-0 victory Saturday afternoon. In what was the finale of the 2022 season at Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish sprinted out to a 17-0 first quarter lead, added 20 more in the second quarter and coasted to the season’s largest margin of victory of the year to improve to 8-3.
The 44-point victory is the most in the rivalry since 1992, when the Irish won 54-7. Notre Dame improves to 18-9 against the Eagles in the series and have won nine-consecutive contests.
Drew Pyne led an offensive attack that compiled 437 total yards. He finished 13-for-25 for 156 yards through the air with one touchdown, and added four yards on the ground.
The rushing attack used six ball carries to run for 281 yards, led by a 122 yard, 15 carry performance with a touchdown from Logan Diggs. Audric Estime added 71 yards on 11 carries and scored twice. Notre Dame eclipsed 200-yards rushing for the sixth time this season, and 250-yard rushing yards for the third time on the year.
Michael Mayer led the receiving corps that saw six catch passes on the day. Mayer finished with five catches for 64 yards, bringing his career total to 2,001 yards. Matt Salerno added two catches for 20 yards and his first career touchdown. Jayden Thomas and Chris Tyree each added a pair of receptions.
Freshman Jaylen Sneed and junior linebacker JD Bertrand led the Irish defense with five tackles each. The Irish defense forced five turnovers, leading to 27 points for the offense. Freshman Benjamin Morrison picked off three BC passes, which matches a school record for interceptions in a game held by 15 players. The last to do it before Morrison was Harrison Smith in the 2010 Sun Bowl against Miami (Fla.).
On the final play of the first half, junior defensive end Isaiah Foskey set the Notre Dame career sacks record as he brought down the Boston College quarterback for an 11-yard loss. Foskey now has 25 career sacks, 9.5 during the 2022 campaign. His 25 career sacks breaks the old record of 24.5 which was held by Justin Tuck (2002-04).
How It Happened
The Irish struck first, using a season-long 51-yard rush from Diggs on the game’s opening play to put the Irish in Eagle territory. Notre Dame capitalized with a 26-yard field goal to go up 3-0 early.
Morrison’s first interception set the Irish up in the red zone. The Irish used five plays to move the 20 yards needed to score on a one-yard plunge from Diggs. Notre Dame led 10-0, 4:55 into the contest.
After forcing a Boston College punt, the Irish took over on its own 19. Pyne found Deion Colzie on a third and eight for a gain of 23 yards to move the Irish into Eagle territory. Pyne found Diggs up the right sideline for another gain of 28 to move into the redzone. The Irish continued the air assault as Pyne found Salerno in the left flat for a touchdown. Salerno’s first of his career to extend the lead to 17-0 with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Morrison’s third interception halted a promising Eagle drive deep into Notre Dame territory late in the second quarter. The Irish marched 57 yards on 10 plays to set up a 41-yard field goal from Blake Grupe. Grupe’s kick was true and the Irish led 20-0, with less than a minute off the clock in the second quarter.
The Irish defense turned Boston College over for the third time of the first half as this time it was Jack Kiser with a sack fumble that was recovered by Isaiah Foskey. Notre Dame moved 15 yards to set up a 46-yard kick from Grupe to extend the lead to 23-0.
Another Boston College fumble set the Irish up in Eagle territory. Diggs ran twice for 29 yards to put the Irish down inside the 15. Estime finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, scoring his 10th rushing touchdown of the season with 3:04 remaining in the first half.
Notre Dame wasn’t finished with its first half work as it forced a punt with just over two minutes remaining. Tyree opened the drive with a 26 yard gain up the middle, and closed the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. Grupe’s kick was good and the Irish went into halftime with its largest lead of the season going into halftime, up 37-0.
The Irish added a score on its first possession of the second half, marching 47 yards on eight plays as Estime walked in off left tackle for the six-yard score.
Up Next
The Irish close the regular season next weekend at the Los Angeles Coliseum as Notre Dame will take on the USC Trojans. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.