SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame document with a 98-yard landing run, Riley Leonard added two extra scores and the Combating Irish shut down the highest-scoring crew within the School Soccer Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday evening.
The seventh-seeded Combating Irish (12-1) received their eleventh straight — and their first playoff victory.
They’ll face second-seeded Georgia within the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman acquired the most important win of his three-year profession by extending his Irish document to 12 victories over ranked groups in three seasons.
“There’s no place like Notre Dame,” Leonard stated. “This is why you come here, this is why I came here — to play for a championship.”
Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) accomplished a magical season by ending with its second fewest factors this season on a chilly, brisk evening within the first CFP sport ever performed on a campus web site.
Each of the Hoosiers’ losses got here to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season faculty document for wins however nonetheless hasn’t received at Notre Dame since 1898.
Notre Dame took management on its third offensive play when Love scooted round the best facet of Indiana’s protection, eluded one deal with and sprinted down the sideline to make it 7-0.
He matched Josh Adams’ longest run at school historical past, set in 2015 towards Wake Forest.
It was additionally the longest run in CFP historical past.
“It’s all about finding a way to get another week,” Freeman stated. “It wasn’t easy. But we’re going to enjoy this one and we’ll get another one.”
Love completed with eight carries for 108 yards regardless of showing to reinjure his left knee later within the first half.
Indiana by no means recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early within the second quarter.
Leonard’s 1-yard TD run late within the fourth gave him 15 this season to interrupt Notre Dame’s season document by a quarterback.
Indiana scored each of its touchdowns within the ultimate 1:27.
Notre Dame made it 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard TD go to Jayden Thomas early within the second quarter. The Irish settled for 3 extra discipline targets, and the protection took care of the remainder — permitting only one discipline aim.
Leonard was 23 of 32 with 201 yards and one interception.
Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in one other poor sport towards a high protection, ending 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception and the Hoosiers rushed for simply 63 yards.
“They took it to us,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti stated. “They won, they deserve to win. We didn’t play our best game, but they had a lot to do with that tonight.”
