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Irish Beat Hurricanes, 30-27

FIRST QUARTER: Notre Dame 17, Miami 0

Top moment: Senior quarterback Cole Luke intercepted Miami junior quarterback Brad Kaaya, which set up a Notre Dame score.

Stats: The Irish outgained the Hurricanes 143-2 in total yards during the first quarter. Miami averaged 414.4 yards per game over its first seven games. Junior quarterback DeShone Kizer completed 10-of-14 passes for two touchdowns and 95 yards. Miami’s Kaaya had zero yards passing.

Items: Kizer has now thrown a touchdown pass in 17 of his 21 career games played, tossing multiple touchdowns in 13 of those contests. Notre Dame had its 14th scoring drive of 75 or more yards this season by going 75 yards on nine plays to open the game. Kizer’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Torii Hunter Jr. It was the fourth time in 2016 that the Irish have scored on their opening drive of a game. Sophomore receiver Equanimeous St. Brown scored his seventh touchdown of the season with a 14-yard score.

SECOND QUARTER: Notre Dame 20, Miami 7

Top moment: Facing a fourth-and-short from the Notre Dame 34, Miami’s Joseph Yearby was stuffed short of the first down, resulting in a turnover.

Stats: At the half, Notre Dame was outgaining Miami 233-105. The Hurricanes had just 3 yards rushing to Notre Dame’s 50. Kizer was 16-of-24 passing for 183 yards and two TDs. Kaaya was just 9-of-16 for 102 yards, one touchdown and one INT.

Items: After sophomore kicker Justin Yoon made it 20-0 in the second quarter, the Hurricanes appeared out of the game. Then, a Miami punt ricocheted off Notre Dame’s Troy Pride Jr. and was recovered by Miami, setting up a Kaaya to David Njoku touchdown to cut the ND lead to 20-7. Miami recovered an onside kick after that play.

THIRD QUARTER: Notre Dame 20, Miami 17

Top moment: On a fourth-and-short in Miami territory, Notre Dame fails to convert, throwing a screen pass to sophomore receiver C.J. Sanders.

Stats: Through three quarters, Notre Dame was outgaining Miami 274-246. Kizer was 20-of-30 for 209 yards. Miami was hurt by penalties, flagged nine times for 85 yards. Kaaya was 19-for-31 for 228 yards. The Hurricanes were 3-for-4 on third down in the third quarter after going just 2-of-9 in the first half.

Items: Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Jarron Jones had four tackles for loss during the first three quarters. He entered the game with 2.5 TFL. Freshman corner Donte Vaughn recorded a career-high three pass breakups during the first three quarters.

FOURTH QUARTER: Notre Dame 30, Miami 27

Top moment: Yoon’s 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left gave the Irish a 30-27 lead.

Stats: Notre Dame finished with 263 yards and were outgained by Miami, which had 288 yards. Kizer finished 25-of-38 with two touchdowns. Kaaya went 26 of 42 with one touchdown. Sophomore running back Josh Adams was Notre Dame’s top rusher, tallying 94 yards and a touchdown. Miami’s Mark Walton had 45 yards. Junior linebacker Nyles Morgan had 9 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU. Jones had 7 tackles, 6 TFL and one sack.

Items: Notre Dame sophomore receiver C.J. Sanders fumbled a Miami punt with 6:49 left, and the Hurricanes recovered for a touchdown. Notre Dame then responded with a quick 75-yard drive, capped by a 41-yard TD run by Adams.

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