Notre Dame finishes the regular season at Stanford on Saturday. Follow along for live updates of the No. 18 Fighting Irish (8-3) vs. the Cardinal (3-8).
First quarter
• Notre Dame wins the toss and defers.
• A 49-yard Justin Lamson rushing play sets Stanford up for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead with 10:59 left in the first quarter. Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau has a huge second-down sack to put the Cardinal behind the sticks, thwarting a touchdown opportunity.
SCORE: Cardinal 3, Irish 0 with 10:59 left
• Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman gets loose for 25 yards on the ground, but instead of stepping out of bounds he tries to gather more yards by taking on contact. He ends up losing the ball on a costly fumble. He’s got to take what he can get and step out of bounds there.
• The Irish defense has looked stout outside of the big Stanford run, and Notre Dame running back Audric Estimé is running like a mad man tonight. He bursts through a hole created by right tackle Blake Fisher and tight end Eli Raridon to score on a 39-yard touchdown.
SCORE: Irish 7, Cardinal 3 with 5:37 left
• A zone coverage bust allows Stanford running back EJ Smith to go for 53 yards on a catch and run. Irish corner Benjamin Morrison vacated a third of the field, and defensive end Jordan Botelho did not drop to cover the space. Smith was off and running.
• Irish linebacker Jack Kiser makes a good play in coverage on Smith to force the Cardinal to kick another field goal. The kick is good.
SCORE: Irish 7, Cardinal 6 with 2:23 left
• Jadarian Price fumbles the ensuing kickoff and gives the ball to Stanford in plus territory. Stanford promptly scores two plays later to retake the lead. The Irish are really stubbing their toes in this one early.
SCORE: Cardinal 13, Irish 7 with 1:31 left
Second quarter
• A run-heavy Irish drive ends with a play-action touchdown from Hartman to freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse. It’s an absolutely beautiful throw and catch.
SCORE: Irish 14, Cardinal 13 with 11:56 left
• A Hartman interception leads directly to a 56-yard field goal, which is good. Stanford has the lead again.
SCORE: Cardinal 16, Irish 14 with 8:57 left
• Estimé is playing like a player possessed tonight. He converts on fourth and short by breaking a tackle and then scores his second touchdown of the night a few plays later. He’s up to 140 yards on 14 attempts.
SCORE: Irish 21, Cardinal 16 with 3:53 left
• Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser rescues a penalty-ridden defensive possession with an interception to give the Irish a chance to add to their lead in the final minutes of the half. A bunch of return yards are wiped out by yet another penalty, though.
• Initially, it looked like Stanford recovered a Gi’Bran Payne fumble at the one-yard line. Upon further review, Payne broke the plane with the ball in his possession before it popped loose. It’s a Notre Dame touchdown.
SCORE: Irish 28, Cardinal 16 with 19 seconds left
Third quarter
• It’s the Estimé show. He’s up to 198 yards and has three touchdowns.
SCORE: Irish 35, Cardinal 16 with 10:25 left
• Nothing left to lose, Stanford goes for it on fourth and short on its own side of the 50. The pass falls incomplete, and the Irish take over in plus territory.
• All Notre Dame needs is one play, a 45-yard strike from Hartman to freshman wide receiver Jordan Faison. Faison was wide-open over the middle.
SCORE: Irish 42, Cardinal 16 with 6:08 left
• Notre Dame gets its second straight fourth down stop in Stanford territory, and Estimé goes to work again. He’s up to 25 carries for 238 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of which are career highs. His latest touchdown goes for 25 yards around the left edge.
SCORE: Irish 49, Cardinal 16 with 1:12 left
Fourth quarter
• Special teams gets in on the fun for the Irish. Javontae Jean-Baptiste returns a blocked field goal 60 yards for another Notre Dame touchdown.
SCORE: Irish 56, Cardinal 16 with 12:41 left
• Sophom*ore linebacker Jaylen Sneed forces a fumble with a big hit. The Irish recover.
• Steve Angeli replaces Hartman at quarterback for Notre Dame, but his first pass attempt is picked off. It’s Angeli’s first interception of his career.
• With backups in on both sides, Stanford sustains a drive and gets into the end zone for an inconsequential score.
SCORE: Irish 56, Cardinal 23 with 7:16 left
