SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU/AP) – A nearly two-hour weather delay wasn’t enough to slow down what many consider to be the best running back tandem in the country, as No. 24 Notre Dame ran all over Purdue en route to a 56-30 win on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
Coming off back-to-back top 25 losses against Miami and Texas A&M to start the season, Jadarian Price scored four touchdowns — including a 100-yard kickoff return — while Jeremiyah Love ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries to help lift the Fighting Irish (1-2) to their first win of the season.
Price scored three touchdowns rushing (21, 9 and 1 yards) on nine carries for 74 yards and finished with 216 all-purpose yards. Love had scoring runs of 46 yards and 1 yard.
The Irish didn’t have to rely on redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr too much on Saturday, but when they did he was pretty effective. Carr went 10 of 12 for and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard TD pass to Malachi Fields on the very first play of scrimmage for the Irish offense and a 48-yarder to Jordan Faison.
The game was delayed by 1 hour and 54 minutes due to a lightning delay with 1:31 remaining in the second quarter.
The Irish took command after the lightning delay with three touchdowns in the third quarter to break away and put the game out of reach for the Boilermakers (2-2).
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said that he challenged his team as individuals after the rough start to the season.
“It was a realistic understanding: Stop making yourself feel better by saying we’re four points away from being 2-0, or, we’re close,” Freeman said of his message to the Fighting Irish before the game. “We’re 0-2. You have to say that to them so they don’t embrace it and understand the work they have to put in. That’s what we needed at this moment. To be challenged and understand our backs are against the wall at this moment. How are we going to fight and get out of this.”
There are still plenty of gripes about the defense from the Irish faithful, as Notre Dame gave up 303 yards through the air to the Boilermakers. However, the Fighting Irish fought back with two interceptions and two sacks on Saturday after recording only one sack and one interception in their first two games.
And after giving up 23 points and 286 total yards of offense in the first half, Notre Dame only allowed one touchdown — with 1:53 left in the game.
But as Freeman points out, there’s still a lot of work to do.
“I told them let’s enjoy this thing, but it’s momentary gratification,” Freeman said. “We understand this isn’t the only reason we work for. We enjoy it in the moment, but the things that we desire are going to take delayed gratification. Got to keep working, find ways to improve, areas to improve, and there are plenty of them, and get back to work for the next opponent here before we know it.
“Again, it wasn’t perfect. You guys saw it. I saw it. There is work to do. There is things we’ve got to continue to try to get fixed,” he continued. “We’ve got to get healthy, and we’ll come up with the right formula to try to give us an opportunity to be successful as we get ready for next Saturday.”
The Irish have now beaten the Boilermakers 10 straight times, including last season’s 66-7 blowout. Notre Dame leads the in-state rivalry series 61-26-2.
Notre Dame will hit the road to play at Arkansas (2-2) next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ABC.
Local Note: NorthWood High School grad Nitro Tuggle caught a 24-yard touchdown pass for Purdue. He had three catches for 66 yards on Saturday, and now has a touchdown reception in each of his last three games.
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