Perfect ... and purrfect: Irish, Cats win thrillers
Plus: Illini hit new low in homecoming loss.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff prospects were beginning to look murky.
The No. 5 Irish were out of sync for most of Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium.
Quarterback Ian Book threw two interceptions. There were special teams mistakes, including surrendering a 99-yard touchdown on kickoff return to Maurice Ffrench. And the normally reliable running game just couldn’t get going.
Still, Book didn’t sense any panic when the Irish began a drive at their own 20-yard line down two points with 7 minutes, 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“There’s no point in freaking out when you have some time on the clock,” Book said, “and we’ve been there before, so we didn’t want to make it a bigger deal than it was.”
Notre Dame kept its cool and drove 80 yards in five plays. Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to receiver Miles Boykin for the go-ahead score with 5:43 remaining, and the Irish held on for a 19-14 victory.
“I’m proud of the guys for remaining calm, being able to go down (the field) and win the game,” Book said.
Book completed 26 of 32 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as Notre Dame (7-0) rallied to avoid a major upset.
“(Pittsburgh) played exactly the way they needed to play to keep this game in the manner that they did, and we still found a way (to win), giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown, throwing two picks and not scoring touchdowns in the red zone,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.
“Having said all that, if you told me all those things are going to happen and we still found a way to win the football game, I'd be pretty excited.”
Kelly saw growth in Book, who went 13-for-14 for 158 yards and the two touchdowns and one interception in the second half. He completed his final 10 passes.
“His pocket awareness was not great in the first half,” Kelly said. “(We) had a nice conversation with him in the second half. He settled down nicely, but I think this is just maturation. Seeing things, feeling them. Had a great second half.”
The Panthers (3-4) took a 14-6 lead when Ffrench began the third quarter with his 99-yard kickoff return.
Jazzee Stocker then intercepted Book to end Notre Dame’s first drive of the period.
“The offense, I need those guys,” Book said. “And if they make a mistake, I need them to forget about it and same goes with me. You think about it for a minute and have to move on.”
He did just that, throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chase Claypool on Notre Dame’s next possession to get the Irish within 14-12. The Irish went for two, but Book couldn’t complete a pass intended for Boykin.
Book and Boykin got on the same page for the game-winning scoring drive.
“This is a game where you have to be confident to play,” said Boykin, who finished with four catches for 84 yards and the touchdown. “I wouldn’t step on that field if I didn’t think we were going to win.”
The Irish found a way, even though they were not at their sharpest.
“I don’t know a team that has won the national title that hasn’t had to come from behind at some point in the season or play in a close game,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said. “It happened to be (Saturday) for us.”