The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Book, Boykin save day for 7-0 Fighting Irish
Ian Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin with 5:43 remaining, and No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten, coming from behind and then holding off visiting Pittsburgh 19-14 on Saturday.
The Fighting Irish are 7-0 for the first time since 2012, the year they went to the BCS title game, and this game against Pitt was reminiscent of that season’s victory in South Bend against the Panthers (3-4).
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.
Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers were looking to upset an Associated Press top-five team for the third straight season after knocking off No. 3 Clemson in Death Valley during the 2016 season and No. 2 Miami last November in Pittsburgh.
But the Irish, who were held to 80 yards rushing, prevailed behind Book, who is 4-0 as a starter since replacing Brandon Wimbush. Book was intercepted twice, but finished with 264 yards passing.
Book and Boykin have connected for memorable plays before, including the 55-yard winning touchdown with 1:28 remaining in Notre Dame’s 21-17 victory over LSU at the Citrus Bowl last season.
Pitt senior running tandem of Darrin Hall and Qadree Ollison rushed for 62 and 50 yards, respectively, with Ollison scoring the Panthers’ first touchdown on a 9-yard run that capped a 17-play drive on their first possession.
Boston College runs past Louisville 38-20
David Bailey ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, Travis Levy recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score for the second straight week and host Boston College beat struggling Louisville 38-20.
Anthony Brown completed 16 of 22 passes for 179 yards and a TD for the Eagles (5-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Ben Glines rushed for 107 yards.
Jawon Pass was 17 of 31 with 170 yards and ran for a TD for the Cardinals (2-5, 0-4). It was Louisville’s fourth consecutive loss.
Bailey’s 1-yard TD run made it 31-20 early in the fourth quarter after BC passed on a field goal attempt and converted a 4th-and-4 at the Cardinals’ 23.
Colton Lichtenberg’s 38-yard field goal with 4 seconds left gave BC a 24-20 halftime edge in a first half filled with big momentum-shifting plays and turnovers.
The Eagles grabbed a 14-0 lead in the opening three minutes before they fumbled it away on consecutive possessions, setting up Louisville’s two short scoring drives.
Malik Cunningham’s 1-yard TD run came after Glines’ fumble at the Eagles’ 6, but the extra point was blocked. On the ensuing kickoff, Michael Walker fumbled and Hassan Hall’s 3-yard scoring run capped a 40-yard drive.