IRISH PUT UP FIGHT IN LOSS
Book’s two INTs prove costly as ND falls to 8-29 against top-10 teams since end of Holtz era in ’96
ATHENS, Ga. — Jake Fromm threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence Cager early in the fourth quarter and No. 3 Georgia, getting a tougher fight than many expected, held off No. 7 Notre Dame 23-17 before a record crowd of more than 93,000 on Saturday night between the hedges, a result that could have ramifications all the way to the College Football Playoff.
The Bulldogs (4-0) trailed 10-7 at halftime but turned the momentum when redshirt freshman Divaad Wilson intercepted a pass by Ian Book deep in Notre Dame territory. The Fromm-to-Cager combination helped push Georgia to a 23-10 lead, but the Irish (2-1) had a chance at the end.
Book’s four-yard touchdown pass to Chase Claypool cut the deficit with 3:12 remaining, the Notre Dame defense held, and Book got the ball back at his own 48 after a poor punt with just under two minutes to go.
The Irish got as far as the Georgia 38, but no further. It ended with Book zig-zagging on a desperate scramble before hurling up a long pass that fell incomplete, denying Notre Dame the signature win over a top opponent it so desperately needs in its first visit ever to Sanford Stadium.
“That’s what college football is all about, man,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I hate that somebody had to lose that game. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way they played, and all the negative things they’ve heard, and to come out and play the way they did. They played really physical as a team, and so did we. We persevered.”
With Georgia up 13-10 after a pair of field goals by Rodrigo Blankenship, Cager hauled in a 36-yard pass along the sideline to push the Bulldogs into the red zone. Then, on third-and-7 from the 15, Notre Dame brought a blitz and Fromm coolly lofted one toward Cager along the left side of the end zone, who leaped high to make the catch and tapped down his right foot before tumbling out of the bounds to put Georgia in command, 2010 with 13:19 remaining.
Desperate to cut into the deficit, Notre Dame called a flea-flicker play. But when Book was pressured out of the pocket and let go of a pass on the run, J.R. Reed dove in front of the intended receiver to make a brilliant interception as he slid into the Irish bench.
It led to Blankenship’s third field goal. D’Andre Swift led Georgia on the ground with 98 yards and a touchdown, including a dazzling play when he hurdled over a wouldbe tackler without being touched.
A two-touchdown underdog, Notre Dame took advantage of a huge turnover by Georgia punt returner Tyler Simmons to grab the lead. Attempting to make a fair catch, he fumbled the ball away and Claypool recovered for the Irish at the Georgia 8 to set up Book’s one-yard touchdown pass to Cole Kmet.
Book finished 29 of 47 for 275 yards, giving Notre Dame a chance right to the end.
The Irish dropped to 8-29 against top-10 teams since Lou Holtz left after the 1996 season. This still seemed like a step in the right direction for the Irish.
Instead of getting blown out against a leading opponent, as they were by Alabama in the 2013 BCS championship game and Clemson in last year’s playoff semifinals, Notre Dame was in this game all the way. But Book’s two interceptions were a killer, and the Irish also seemed to struggle with the noise judging by five false-start penalties.