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Georgia outgained Notre Dame by 52 yards overall, 244 to 296, but two statistics tell the difference in the game: Rushing yards and turnovers.
In a game between two teams built around complimentary football, Notre Dame won both of those battles decisively. The Irish racked up 154 rushing yards compared to just 62 for the Bulldogs. Yet it was Georgia who entered the game with a healthy first-string running back to complement its dual-threat quarterback, as Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love was limited to just 19 yards on six carries.
But neither QB Gunnar Stockton (-23 yards on 10 carries, including 4 sacks) Trevor Etienne (38 yards on 10 carries) could gain much traction on the ground, though second-string running back Nate Frazier did well with 37 yards on just four carries. It’s a credit to a Notre Dame defensive line playing without its best player, Rylie Mills, and lost its second-best player, Howard Cross III, to an apparent injury in the fourth quarter.
On the other side of the ball, credit is due mainly to Riley Leonard and his team-high 80 yards rushing on 14 carries. Backup RB Jadarian Price added 37 yards on 10 carries including several key chunk plays down the stretch to eliminate the chance of a Georgia comeback
Notre Dame handled Indiana 27-17 in its home first-round opener, a game not nearly as close as the final score implied, and then the Fighting Irish beat Georgia 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal, the program’s first major bowl victory since 1994. The Irish completely shut down Georgia’s running game, forced a key fumble before halftime that led to a touchdown and stopped Georgia on fourth down multiple times. Quarterback Riley Leonard was his usual efficient-but-not-explosive self. He only threw for 88 yards, but he ran for 65 yards, including a diving flip to convert a critical third down late in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame’s offense relies on that top-ranked running game, led by Leonard, running back Jeremiyah Love (who appeared to be dealing with a leg injury in the Sugar Bowl) and running back Jadarian Price. The pass offense has not been prolific. Notre Dame was the worst field goal kicking team in the FBS during the regular season, making fewer than 50 percent of its kicks in part due to injuries at placekicker, but kicker Mitch Jeter is 5 for 6 on field goals in the CFP, including a 4-for-4 mark from beyond 40 yards. The defense has been among the best in the country, despite losing some key secondary pieces earlier in the year and losing sack leader Rylie Mills for the season against IndianaNEW ORLEANS — Marcus Freeman grabbed hold of his six kids, each making their way to a podium covered by blue and white confetti. Notre Dame’s head coach had already lifted the Sugar Bowl trophy, capping a Thursday night that took everything and everyone. So Freeman stole a moment to soak in the scene Notre Dame hired him to deliver, sharing it with his familyNEW ORLEANS, La. — In the waning moments of the Sugar Bowl, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey walked off the field wearing a serious expression. Glum, some might say. Fully aware the takes and narratives being unspooled that very minute, as another one of his teams, this one conference champion Georgia, was ousted by another non-SEC team.NEW ORLEANS, La. — In the waning moments of the Sugar Bowl, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey walked off the field wearing a serious expression. Glum, some might say. Fully aware the takes and narratives being unspooled that very minute, as another one of his teams, this one conference champion Georgia, was ousted by another non-SEC team.in the Sugar Bowl, which was delayed a day after the attack in New Orleans, to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
In a game in which the Bulldogs outgained the Fighting Irish 294 yards to 213, Notre Dame capitalized on key plays to emerge victorious. Both of the game’s turnovers were fumbles by Georgia, one stopping a potential scoring drive and the other setting up a Notre Dame touchdown. After scoring 10 points in the final 39 seconds of the first half, the Fighting Irish also returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown, completing a 17-0 run in just 54 seconds of game time
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