SNOW, ND BLANKET BC
Irish score on first eight possessions; CB Morrison has three interceptions
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Cornerback Benjamin Morrison had three interceptions, the Notre Dame defense forced two fumbles and the No. 18 Fighting Irish scored on their first eight possessions to beat Boston College 44-0 on Saturday.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said he was happy to see his team play at a high level throughout, which has been a problem for the Irish this season, especially against weaker opponents.
“Great teams are able to play to a standard; great individuals are able to play to a standard, not to an opponent,” Freeman said. “Competitors rise to the level of their opponent. To me, great teams, championship teams set the standard.”
Boston College coach Jeff Hafley said the five turnovers were too much to overcome.
“We never got into a rhythm; we were turning the ball over,” he said.
The Irish (8-3) won their ninth straight against Boston College (3-8), the only other Catholic university playing in the FBS. Notre Dame also extended its regular-season winning streak against ACC teams to 28 games.
The temperature at game time was 27 degrees, making it the coldest game at Notre Dame in nine years, and heavy snow fell through much of the third quarter.
“It was hard enough to throw in the first half, then in the second half, I don’t know if you guys could even see what was going on,” Hafley said. “It was hard to see from the sidelines. I’m going to have to watch the tape.”
He won’t like what he sees. Notre Dame dominated from the start, with Logan Diggs breaking through the line untouched for 51 yards before being tackled at the BC 24-yard line. The Irish settled for a 26-yard field goal by Blake Grupe.
On the next possession, Diggs scored on a one-yard run. Then Drew Pyne threw a oneyard touchdown pass to Matt Salerno, and the rout was on.
Notre Dame had more points than Boston College had total yards late in the first quarter when it was 17-7. Notre Dame had an 11:42 to 3:18 advantage in time of possession and only needed to make five tackles in the quarter.
The Eagles threatened to score after Emmett Morehead completed his first pass, 39 yards to Zay Flowers at the Notre Dame 25. But Morehead’s next pass to Joe Griffin was intercepted by Morrison in the end zone.
Morrison, who had two key interceptions two weeks ago in a win over Clemson, also intercepted Morehead at the BC 20-yard line on the Eagles’ first possession and at the BC 47-yard line on the Eagles’ first possession of the second half. Morrison said he only had one interception in high school.
“This is all new to me, but it’s a blessing,” he said.