Notre Dame vs Clemson, 24-22: Full highlights, final score and more

Clemson held off a valiant, late effort by Notre Dame on Saturday night

Clemson did not waste any time on Saturday letting everyone know that they meant business. On their opening drive of the game, they drove 64 yards in seven plays and it was all capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to tight end Jordan Leggett for the early 7-0 lead. On their very next drive, Watson and the offense went right back to work as the sophomore found Artavis Scott for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 14-0 about halfway through the first quarter.

Notre Dame would get on the scoreboard in the first quarter as well, a 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-3.

From there, for the rest of the first half, things would come to a halt. Both defenses stepped up, and the weather didn’t do any favors either, as the wide receivers from both sides had trouble hanging onto the ball and both quarterbacks were having issues with the passes. Clemson would take the 14-3 lead into the locker room for halftime.

The second half did not get off to the start the Irish had hoped for down 14-3. They fumbled the opening kickoff of the half, and not long after Clemson made the recovery, Watson would strike through the middle of the Irish defense for a 21-yard TD run and the 21-3 lead. As if things couldn’t get any worse for the No. 8 team in the country, they would fumble on the next drive and that was also recovered by Clemson.

That’d be all the scoring we’d see in the third. The big play in this one was, as time was running down, Notre Dame’s Cole Luke would pick off Watson in the end zone.

In the fourth quarter, the Irish offense would finally find their way to the end zone. Kizer found C.J. Prosise on the right side and he would proceed to take it 56 yards to the house, tip-toeing the sideline. That score would cut things to 21-9 following a missed two-point conversion. About five minutes later, Notre Dame would knock through a field goal to add to the lead at 24-9.

With about nine minutes to go in the game, the Notre Dame offense would show a sign of life yet again. This time, DeShone Kizer capped off a 64-yard drive with a three-yard rushing score of his own, cutting things this time to 24-16.

At about two minutes left in the game, disaster struck for the Irish. They were able to get the ball and they were putting together an impressive drive. From the Clemson 12-yard line, Kizer was able to find Chris Brown wide open over the middle, but as Brown was looking for the end zone, the ball was knocked loose and was recovered by the Tigers.

Then, things got really crazy. With 12 seconds left in regulation, Kizer hit Torii Hunter Jr. for the score to make it 24-22; it was time for the two-point try. Well, Brian Kelly called a roll out to the right side that was stuffed by the Clemson defense to seal the win.

Three Stars

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: 11-of-22 passing for 97 yards and two touchdowns; 16 rushes for 93 yards and a score

DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: 19-of-35 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns; 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown

Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson: 22 carries for 98 yards.

Highlights

Odds

Clemson came into this one as a -2.5 point favorite at home in Death Valley, so they were unable to cover.

Next Week

After Saturday, Clemson will now move on to face Georgia Tech at home next weekend. Notre Dame will take on Navy this Saturday.

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