Notre Dame Defeats Georgia Tech 31-14, Extends Winning Streak to Three Games 10-19-2024
The University of Notre Dame football team (6-1) showcased resilience and dominance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rattling off 31 unanswered points to secure a 31-14 victory over Georgia Tech. The Irish defense shined, limiting the Yellow Jackets to just 64 rushing yards, while quarterback Riley Leonard rebounded from an early interception to deliver a dual-threat performance.
Key Performances
- Riley Leonard (QB): 20-of-29 passing for 203 yards, 51 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns.
- Jeremiyah Love (RB): 93 total yards and a rushing touchdown.
- Adon Shuler (S): 36-yard pick-six to cap the Irish scoring.
- Drayk Bowen (LB): Career-high nine tackles.
- Leonard Moore (CB): Seven tackles, one TFL, and two pass breakups in his second career start.
First Half: Irish Take Control After Early Missteps
Notre Dame’s second drive saw Riley Leonard throw a deep interception in the Georgia Tech end zone, giving the Yellow Jackets momentum. Georgia Tech capitalized with a methodical drive, including a fortunate fumble recovery at the goal line to take a 7-0 lead.
The Irish responded immediately. Jeremiyah Love’s versatility sparked the offense with 25 yards over three plays. A tight-end screen to Mitchell Evans and a quick pass to Aneyas Williams set up Leonard’s three-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
Notre Dame’s defense quickly forced a three-and-out, and Leonard led another scoring drive before halftime. Key plays included back-to-back receptions by Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins to set up Leonard’s 11-yard untouched option keeper for a touchdown. The score marked Leonard’s 10th rushing TD of the season, making him just the third Notre Dame quarterback to achieve double-digit rushing scores in a season.
Georgia Tech attempted to answer with a field goal before halftime but botched the snap, allowing the Irish defense to swarm the kicker for a 16-yard loss. Notre Dame entered halftime leading 14-7.
Second Half: Irish Dominate Both Sides of the Ball
The Irish defense set the tone after the break, forcing another Georgia Tech three-and-out. On offense, Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for a 28-yard gain, setting up Jeremiyah Love’s one-yard rushing touchdown. The score extended Notre Dame’s lead to 21-7.
Georgia Tech’s next drive appeared promising with a 60-yard catch-and-run to the Notre Dame 16-yard line. However, the Irish defense stood firm. A tackle-for-loss by Jaiden Ausberry and a Rylie Mills sack—only the second allowed by Georgia Tech in 2024—forced a field goal attempt that was blocked by freshman Bryce Young.
Notre Dame’s offense stalled briefly, but special teams provided a spark with a reverse fake punt to Love for 27 yards. The drive culminated in Zac Yoakam’s first career field goal, a 42-yarder, pushing the Irish lead to 24-7.
Fourth Quarter: Irish Defense Seals the Victory
Georgia Tech’s desperation led to mistakes, with Xavier Watts grabbing his 10th career interception. Adon Shuler provided the exclamation point for the Irish, intercepting an overthrown pass and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown, extending Notre Dame’s lead to 31-7.
Georgia Tech managed a late touchdown against Notre Dame’s backup defense in the final seconds, but the outcome was already decided.
Key Stats
- Total Yards: Notre Dame 407, Georgia Tech 274.
- Rushing Yards Allowed: Notre Dame 64.
- Turnovers Forced: Notre Dame 2 (1 INT returned for TD, 1 blocked FG).
The Irish move to 6-1 on the season, demonstrating their ability to dominate in all three phases of the game.
