The Fighting Irish are advancing in the College Football Playoff, as No. 7 Notre Dame defeated No. 2 Georgia, 23-10, to earn their spot in the semifinals.
Notre Dame will now face No. 6 Penn State, which beat No. 3 Boise State, on Jan. 9 to determine who will go to the national championship game.
This game was supposed to be played Wednesday night, but the horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans forced it to be postponed until Thursday afternoon. The Caesars Superdome was still packed for the showdown, where a moment of silence was held for those killed or injured by the senseless act of violence.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard looks to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Images by Stephen Lew-Imagn)
Chants of “United States!” They were also heard before the singing of the national anthem was heard throughout the stadium.
Once the game began, both teams showed off their suffocating defenses, as both were unable to find points on the scoreboard until the Bulldogs finally kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 3-0 early in the second quarter. .
It could have been more, however, as Georgia receiver Arian Smith caught a pass from Gunner Stockton and took it 67 yards to the Notre Dame 11-yard line. But one of the strangest 15-yard setback penalties was called when a bench referee collided with Parker Jones, a cornerback who hasn’t played all season and was on the sideline in his jersey and no pads.
NOTRE DAME TIES BY CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING TOWARDS THE KICKER’S PENALTIES TO OPEN THE SUGAR BOWL
The 15-yard penalty ended up hurting Georgia, which settled for a field goal when it could have been four more points.
Notre Dame, however, would not only match that field goal on the ensuing drive, but took a 6-3 lead with 39 seconds left when Mitch Jeter scored a 48-yard score just before the end of the half.
The Fighting Irish were probably fine entering the locker room with the lead despite never finding the end zone, but everything changed on the first play of Georgia’s next drive when Stockton was sacked by linebacker RJ Oben.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman RJ Oben, left, fumbles Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton for a fumble during the first half of the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Images by Stephen Lew-Imagn)
As the ball bounced off the turf, Notre Dame’s Junior Tuihalamaka pounced on it and gave quarterback Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish offense the ball at the Georgia 13-yard line with time to finally reach the end zone .
That’s exactly what happened when Leonard threw a strike to wide receiver Beaux Collins for the 13-yard score to go up 13-3 at the half.
It was energizing for Notre Dame, considering they would get the ball early in the second half. And that’s when the game totally changed in favor of the Fighting Irish.
Jayden Harrison took the opening kickoff for Notre Dame and proceeded to take it to the house: 98 yards down the left sideline to open the game with a 20-3 lead for his team. Head coach Marcus Freeman enjoyed every second on the sideline as he celebrated with his team.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Images by Amber Searls-Imagn)
On the other side, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart knew he needed his guys to speed up the game, and Stockton was finally able to get one of his teammates into the end zone in the third quarter when Cash Jones was left alone. in one play. 32-yard wheel route that went for six.
But that’s all the Bulldogs would get in the second half, as Notre Dame’s defense forced two turnover drives after that, including an incomplete pass on fourth-and-five to Lawson Luckie to ice the win.
Looking at the score, it wasn’t good for Leonard, who threw for just 88 yards, but didn’t throw an interception and also ran for 65 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiver Jordan Faison also provided solid production for Notre Dame with 46 yards on four receptions.
Notre Dame’s Jayden Harrison celebrates after returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown during the second half during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
For Georgia, Stockton was 18 of 29 for 225 yards and his touchdown pass. The Fighting Irish were able to hinder the Bulldogs’ tough running back, Trevor Etienne, as he only had 38 yards on 11 carries.
