Book to Boykin a winning combo

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Wide receiver Miles Boykin had a message for quarterback Ian Book after No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten Saturday, coming from behind and then holding off Pittsburgh 19-14.

“I told him winning is fun, but let’s not win like this again,” Boykin said after he caught the game-winning, 35-yard touchdown pass from Book with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Book-to-Boykin combination is beginning to etch itself in Notre Dame lore. Book and Boykin have had memorable moments before — their 55-yard touchdown with 1:28 left in the Citrus Bowl last January provided the Irish with a 21-17 victory over Louisiana State.

Saturday’s score lifted the Irish to 7-0 for the first time since 2012, the year they went to the BCS title game.

Pitt led 14-12 thanks to a long first-quarter touchdown drive and a 99-yard kickoff return by Maurice Ffrench to start the second half. But the Irish, who were held to 80 yards rushing, prevailed behind Book, who is 4-0 since replacing Brandon Wimbush. Book threw two interceptions but finished with 264 yards passing. He was 13 of 14 for 158 yards in the second half.

“I didn’t even see [Book] throw it,” Boykin said after finishing with four receptions for 84 yards. “I just saw the ball up there and thought ‘I have to catch up to this.’ It was a dime.”

Book said Boykin is “really rangy, so I just got to put it up there and give him a chance. Day in and day out, he works so hard. I think our chemistry is starting to come along a little bit.”

The Panthers were looking to upset a top-five team for the third straight season after knocking off No. 3 Clemson in 2016 season and No. 2 Miami last November.