The Fighting Irish started out the season ranked No. 5 in the nation. But after dropping their first two, including one last week to Marshall from the Sunbelt Confernce, Notre Dame came into this one just looking to stop the bleeding and get that first win under their belt. Mission accomplished, although they almost lost it in a narrow 24-17 victory over Cal at home in South Bend in front of 77,000+ loyal fans packed into Notre Dame Stadium—the first meeting between the two schools in 55 years.
Absolutely nothing good happened in the 1st Qtr for either team with Cal and Notre Dame combining for seven three-and-outs and Cal, in their only possession of the Qtr in which they didn’t have to punt on their fourth play, went on an 11 play, 58 yard drive, down to the Notre Dame 27 yard line. With just 16 seconds left and facing a 4th and 7 they attempted a 45 yard field goal which missed. The miscues continued two plays later when Drew Pyne, after completing an 8 yard pass to Braden Lenzy, fumbled the ball back to the Bears on the Notre Dame 35. Four Jack Plummer pass completions later Cal was in the end zone on an 18 yard strike to J. Michael Sturdivant to go up 7-0 just 30 seconds into the 2nd Qtr.
The Fighting Irish came right back to tie the score on a 10 play drive which, aided by an offsides penalty by Cal on an attempted field goal from the Bear 27 yard line, resulted in a 21 yard pass from ND Sophomore QB Drew Pyne to Junior RB Chris Tyree. Seven plays later the Bears had worked their way back down to the ND Red Zone on the back of Jaydn Ott on the ground and Plummer in the air, including a 33 yard pass to Jeremiah Hunter down to the ND 8 yard line. But one short 4 yard completion, an incomplete pass, and a run that lost 2 had the Bears only two yards closer on a 4th and goal at the ND 6 yard line from where Place Kicker Dario Longhetto converted a 34 yard field go to go up 10-7 where the score stayed through the break.
Cal got the ball first in the 3rd Qtr but were held to a three-and-out. Notre Dame took possession and six plays later were at 3rd and 4 on the Cal 28 yard line where the Bears shot themselves in the foot by commiting a targeting penalty which moved the ball half the distance to the goal and gave the Fighting Irish an automatic first down. Four plays later Sophomore RB Audric Estime ran into the end zone to put Notre Dame up 14-10. Cal came right back on a 10 play, 75 yard drive aided by an unnecesssary roughness penalty to take the lead again 17-14 on a Jack Plummer run into the end zone. By the end of the 3rd Qtr Notre Dame was back in position to take the lead again, sitting at 3rd and 5 at the Cal 29 yard line. But after a Drew Pyne incomplete pass settled for a 47 yard field goal by Blake Grupe to tie the score at 17 a piece.
If you had to pick a series of plays that ended up determining the outcome of this game it would have to be Cal’s next possesion starting from their own 25 yard line where Notre Dame picked up their first sack of the game and a loss of 8 yards back to the 17. On the next play, Cal committed an offensive interference penalty. Now 3rd and 18 they run the ball but only pick up 4 yards and are forced to punt from their own 21 yard line down to the 34. Notre Dame’s next 7 play 66 yard drive would put them up for good, 24-17 on Drew Pyne’s 2nd TD pass of the game, this one to Junior TE Michael Mayer. On Cal’s next possession they worked their way down to a 1st and 10 at the ND 22 yard line which included a 16 yard run by Jack Plummer on a 4th and 8 from the 38 yard line. But after 3 incomplete passes in a row, Cal found themselves at 4th and 10 on the Notre Dame 22 yard line where Defensive Lineman Isaiah Foskey earned the game ball by sacking Plummer who lost 8 yards back to the 30 where the Fighting Irish would take back over.
Although they couldn’t put any more points up on the board, Notre Dame ate up precious time with Cal not getting the ball back until there was less than 4 minutes left in the game. Sitting 1st and 10 at their own 7 yard line Plummer threw twice, both incomplete. On third down, here comes DL Isaiah Foskey again, this time with teammate Jayson Ademilola, who sack Plummer and push Cal back five yards forcing a punt on 4th down from their own 2 yard line. Notre Dame takes over at the Cal 42 yard line with under three minutes to play. Once again, they don’t score but by the time they punt the ball back to Cal there is just a minute left. Cal takes over from their own 20 yard line but Plummer is intercepted at the 32 yard line on his first pass in the drive, a play that didn’t hold up due to a targeting penalty. Now starting from his 35 Plummer connects on three in a row down to the Notre Dame 29 yard line where his protection breaks down again and is sacked by Senior Defensive Lineman Jayson Ademiloia. Now facing a 4th and 13 at the Notre Dame 35 with only 5 seconds left Plummer’s final attempt fell incomplete and the Fighting Irish hung on for their first victory of the year.
In the past Cal would probably be relieved to go back home to open up conference play against Arizona next Saturday. But those cats aren’t the same cats, so look out.