Bowled over

Book throws for 5 TDs as Irish get ready for Southern Cal

SOUTH BEND — Ian Book threw five touchdown passes and had only four incomplete passes in a little more than two quarters of work as No. 9 Notre Dame rolled over Bowling Green 52-0 on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish (4-1) had their way with the Falcons, a first-time opponent from the Mid-American Conference whose campus is just 164 miles away.

The winning margin matched Notre Dame’s winning difference in a 66-14 victory over New Mexico earlier this season and was Notre Dame’s first shutout since 2014.

The Irish had 573 total yards, with senior Tony Jones Jr. rushing over 100 for the third time this season. Jones had 102 yards on seven carries. Notre Dame limited the Falcons (1-4) to 228 yards.

Book, who matched his previous high of five touchdown passes against New Mexico last month, completed 16 of 20 for 261 yards before giving way to backup Phil Jurkovec at the 4:11 mark of the third quarter. Jurkovec, a 6foot-5 sophomore, added a TD pass in the third quarter, a 7-yarder to Avery Davis.

After going three-andout on their first possession, the Irish drove 80 yards in six plays and 1:58, culminating with Book’s 17-yard scoring pass to Tommy Tremble. Scoring passes to Cole Kmet (21 yards) and Chase Claypool (34 yards) made it 21-0 after the first quarter. Book then hit Claypool (8 ya rd s ) and Javon McKinley (25 yards) with scoring passes in the second quarter for a 35-0 halftime lead.

Meanwhile, the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and produced five turnovers in a 35-20 victory over Virginia last week, earned its first shutout since a 31-0 blanking of Michigan. The Irish managed two sacks and one takeaway, but had seven quarterback hurries of Bowling Green’s two quarterbacks.

The Irish play host to long-time rival Southern California on Saturday night with another longtime rival, Michigan, the following week in Ann Arbor.