Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas A&M Aggies | Full Game Highlights | ESPN College Football
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00:00The breeze at his back, Jeter drives it out of the ballpark.
00:08Noah Thomas, the top target, goes in motion, and Wegman looks across the middle and zips
00:14a strike for a first down out to the 40s, he finds Cyrus Allen for 15.
00:19They want to stay out of those third longs.
00:21Big cushion right here.
00:24Pressure off the edge, Wegman gets it out, gets it complete to Trey Watson, and the big
00:28tight end is a first down inside the 25.
00:32Start for Wegman.
00:34This time good protection, time to survey, steps up, he can scramble, not a speedy dude,
00:43he's more of a north-south scrambler, but he can make a defense play.
00:48From 34 to give the Aggies the lead.
00:54Drives it right through.
00:56Riley Leonard's here, pressure with York off to his left.
01:00Late block at three, low snap, through the timing off, he gets it underneath the Jayden
01:06Greathouse, and the receiver gets a first down, picks up eights to the right.
01:16Leonard looks that way, throws it into traffic, catch made, and then the immediate hit on
01:21Faison by Will Lee.
01:25Let's see what he calls here on third and medium.
01:31Leonard trying to escape, excellent scrambler, can he get there?
01:35Yes, he can, slides down, a flag comes in on the hit.
01:40He went down low.
01:43He did pick up first down yardage right at the 50.
01:47From the right, see how he lowered his head?
01:58Bill LaMagna, happy to have him joining us in the booth.
02:01Bill, how did you see this as they review this, the ACC Replay Center?
02:05No question, we've got a late hit because of the feet first slide.
02:09And he does come in, because he's defenseless now, he does get him with forcible contact
02:15Very marginal field goal range, if they can't get the first down, they'd love to get it closer.
02:20And they get it in the flat there, Bowe Collins that comes in, transfer, gets near the marker
02:25before he's dragged down at the 26 by Lee.
02:28Collins do some damage after the catch, get some good blocks up front, see the tight end, Mitchell Evans.
02:34And all of a sudden you're in field goal range.
02:37This from 46 yards within his range to tie the score.
02:45Low kick, and he drives it right through.
02:51Handoff, getting to the edge is Moss, and he falls forward.
02:56That's a solid first down pickup out near the 45.
02:59Athletic, and he's personal, they're going to move him all over the field.
03:03This gives you an idea of the athletic.
03:05Baton Rouge time, 4.30 in L.A.
03:10First down, Handoff.
03:12Moss hammers ahead.
03:16See right there at the first down stripe, signaling.
03:22Wegman, pump fake, has time.
03:25Makes a cut, and will scramble and die for a first down out near midfield before Kaiser got him down.
03:32Turn ball's about to be snapped, you can see Kaiser, everyone's trying to get on the same page
03:36because they go to this empty look, and because of that, he clears everybody out.
03:40There's no one except Kaiser there.
03:46Moss again tries the left side.
03:48Cuts downhill, and behind that big offensive line, they move the 6 again inside the 40.
03:54Fulanuku by Igu, a transfer from Utah, he missed the Pac-12.
03:57He's the backup center now.
03:59And the handoff again, this time it's Daniels, and he muscles down near the 32.
04:06Two penalties on the third down for this Aggie offense, they need eight now.
04:10Wegman in the flat, catch made by Walker.
04:14Loops around, but does not get near the marker.
04:17Stopped at the 32 by Donovan Heinisch.
04:20To this defense, how he comes in and forces this ball back inside, right there.
04:24He didn't make the play, but he took away the outside opportunity, leveraged the football back to the middle.
04:30Usually get that windy inside this cavernous stadium.
04:34Kind of swirling.
04:36And this field goal will sneak inside the left upright, and the Aggies will reclaim the lead.
04:42It helps, but it's on-field grit and toughness, which is what he's trying to bring.
04:48Crowd really noisy on 2nd and 10, they bring pressure late.
04:51It's picked up, and the pitch is made to the perimeter, and that's a nice completion for a first down.
04:56Igu is a transfer portal, is a guy who can go vertical.
04:58Look out to the right.
04:59You think he's going deep? Nope.
05:00He's going deep? Nope.
05:01Puts the brakes on, balls out early, and away to the outside.
05:04To really get a beat on your opponents, it's true.
05:07Especially these first couple weeks.
05:09Mandel drops the point, and boots it high.
05:12Busse will field it at the 8, makes a couple guys miss, and spins down at the 17-yard line.
05:22Wegman, 4 for 10, has run a couple of times for first downs from the pocket here, has plenty of time.
05:28And fires, intercepted!
05:31He threw it over the receiver's head, and Aidan Shuler has the pick.
05:38Tough Jersey kid.
05:40He's going to sit back here in center field and read the quarterback's eyes, let him man coverage underneath him.
05:44Quarterback steps up, that is not an accurate ball, and instead, you can see why he threw it with the receiver finally getting separation.
05:50But the ball sails on him, over the receiver's hands, and right into the arms there of the safety Shuler,
05:56who, like I said, is having a great game here tonight.
06:03Second and 16, underneath screen.
06:06And trying to work free as Bo Collins gets bumped out, but they get a huge chunk of yardage back, makes it 3rd and short.
06:13Right in right there, Evans.
06:18Leonard, looking to the end zone, looping throw for Greathouse,
06:22and it's interference, the flag came in late, it was defended by Tyreke Chappelle.
06:28Corner, tell me what you see.
06:30Pass interference, defense number 7.
06:33He's not playing the ball, runs him off to the outside, contact.
06:38Elko didn't like the call.
06:40If he turned his head and was running stride for stride and had that same contact, what would the call be?
06:46I'd leave it alone.
06:47That's what I thought.
06:53So twice, Notre Dame has answered an A&M Field Goals win of their own.
06:58He is back out on the bench, talking with his teammates with an urgency as if he can return.
07:02I'll keep you posted.
07:04Legman's throw, catch made.
07:06Allen curls and makes it first down across the 35.
07:10That's good news.
07:11Out concept motion here, get up and work across.
07:14You'll see the receiver coming in, Walker.
07:16He's just trying to get behind Noah Thomas, number 3.
07:19But you're right, that is into heavy traffic.
07:21It's got to be a very, very accurate throw to have a chance.
07:28Rush for Legman, backpedaling.
07:30Trying to stay alive, but he can't.
07:32He'll be sacked by Howard across the 3rd.
07:35One of those veterans on that defensive line.
07:38Element to the interior right here.
07:40Watch his swim move, goes right around the guard.
07:43Naboo to centers over late.
07:45They rush 4.
07:46When you can rush 4 on 3rd down like this and play man coverage behind that with a couple of safeties back deep.
07:52Man, that is tough on a quarterback.
07:58They try Love off the left side, and he gets the edge.
08:01Jeremiah Love, scooting down the sidelines, is run out of bounds.
08:05Finally by Bryce Anderson, but suddenly.
08:08Yeah, nice kick-out block here.
08:09Watch the guard do a nice job of being able to seal this to the inside.
08:13It gives him a little bit of room to work.
08:14Also, good effort there by the wide receiver who's getting involved in blocking.
08:18That was Bo Collin.
08:19Behind the 6, first and 15.
08:21Devin Ford's the bat.
08:23Around the end, they give it to Harrison, and he's going to be tracked down after a short gain by Torrey.
08:32Moss makes a cut and muscles for a first down.
08:37Really talented corner, number 20.
08:40Second down, Wegman steps up across the middle.
08:42It's a low throw, but it's intercepted.
08:46Communication.
08:47Here he is right here, and watch the route, and watch how he comes off of one receiver.
08:52Does a good job of slipping to the inside, and then the instincts.
08:56I mean, his vision is what makes him special when it comes to defending the ball in the air.
09:02Knew exactly what he wanted to do.
09:04You mentioned the 7 interceptions, and it backfired.
09:07Better success on early downs to help out Riley Leonard.
09:10Leonard 11 for 19.
09:12Hasn't been sacked.
09:13Hasn't thrown a pick.
09:14And finally, finds the tight end, Cooper Flanagan, who's trying to step in.
09:18Mitchell Evans has...
09:21Greathouse comes across in motion.
09:24Keeper again.
09:25Leonard lowers his head.
09:28It's close.
09:30It's going to depend on the spot.
09:32It's right at the Aggies' 49.
09:35Scooby Williams made the tackle.
09:37Aggies think turnover on downs.
09:40I think it's a first down based on that spot.
09:42Looked to see that he didn't get it.
09:44Right at the 49-yard line, they stretch the sticks, and...
09:50It is short.
09:53A&M makes a fourth-down stop as Freeman's second gamble in the drive doesn't pay off.
10:01They're an inch short, and they'll take over at midfield.
10:04M2, relax.
10:05I also asked him about third down.
10:07Now, Notre Dame is 2-8 on third down.
10:09He said, we are mixing up the packages, and, look, they haven't figured it out yet.
10:13We're going to continue to be multiple on that down.
10:16Wegman steps back.
10:17He's thrown the two picks, but he gets this one out, and Walker has got some room,
10:21and it's a first down inside the Notre Dame 40, pickup 11.
10:24There you go.
10:25Get into the slot.
10:26This is the matchup.
10:27Wegman's trying to get separation.
10:29Ball comes out late.
10:30He's still able to come back to the football.
10:33They've got four.
10:36Leonard, looping the ball, and the catch is made on the sidelines.
10:40They find Cooper Flanagan, who had one catch last year but is stepping up.
10:46Second and 14.
10:47Now they split the safeties up top.
10:51And they run right downhill.
10:53Price makes a cut, gets the edge.
10:56Darian Price headed for the pylon.
10:58Touchdown, Notre Dame, 47 yards.
11:02Finally, somebody reaches the end zone.
11:06Yeah, let's take a look and see how they're able to exploit this.
11:09What a play by this offense.
11:12Great job of being able to just get this thing going.
11:15You know, it's the offensive line.
11:17They've had such a tough night.
11:19This time they're able to get up to that second level
11:22and finally give a back some room to run.
11:26Final minutes of the third quarter.
11:29Leonard, behind a block, dives forward.
11:33He begins to run the ball more and more in these design runs.
11:37Semi-finals, championship game type thing.
11:39That's what they're hoping for.
11:42This is Moss again.
11:43And Moss, a nice run for a first down, picks up 12.
11:47To Don Shuler in coverage there on the tight end.
11:54Second and 10, Irish are showing pressure.
11:56They run right into the blitz.
11:58And it's Smith, breaking free.
12:00Emmitt Smith's son, EJ, sets him up first and goal.
12:04Ripping off a 14-yarder.
12:07Pick it up.
12:08They saw it with that hard count.
12:09It kind of tipped it.
12:10Watch the offensive line do their job.
12:13Notre Dame almost ran themselves really right out of that play
12:16with a blitz up.
12:20Hand off.
12:21Moss.
12:22Touchdown, Aggies.
12:33Eggman back pedals.
12:35Throw.
12:36Catch made.
12:37Knocked out of bounds right near the marker is Moss.
12:40They're going to spot him short.
12:43Yeah, he's short.
12:44The ball did not get across.
12:45We just keep talking about Moss.
12:47Le'Veon Moss is the one guy that can make plays.
12:49That ball is thrown behind him.
12:51Not quite the presence of mind to realize where he was
12:53and try to extend that ball beyond the marker.
12:56Bill, you're the best, too.
12:57But, boy, Rogers was just an outstanding person,
13:00not just a great official.
13:02Well said.
13:03On second and one, they trap Lowe behind the line.
13:08Skorton made his name as a pass rusher.
13:11Strong in run support.
13:12That's a huge play.
13:14Great ball back right here.
13:16And Devin Ford in the game there in the backfield.
13:18Blake Locke at three.
13:20Leonard steps up, delivers a strike for a first down.
13:23An enormous conversion to great house as they keep the football.
13:31Looking to throw on first down.
13:33Again, the sidelines, a one-on-one matchup.
13:35A battle is won by Bo Collins on the edge as he beat Will Lee.
13:40And the Irish are in A&M territory or close to it.
13:43Boy, he had all kinds of time.
13:45They go back to that one-on-one matchup.
13:47Pretty good coverage by Will Lee.
13:49How about Bo Collins working back to the football?
13:52He better be careful.
13:53That could have been 15.
13:56The play's under review.
13:57They're going to look at this because there may have been a bobble through the hand.
14:01Get hyped up.
14:02But you can't physically push them.
14:04They've been going at it.
14:05It's a heck of an effort.
14:06High points to ball.
14:08The question is, does he have possession when his feet are down before he gets pushed out?
14:12Let's watch here, Bill.
14:13This will be a good one.
14:15Foot down there.
14:16Does he have it?
14:17He tucks it there as his feet come up off the ground.
14:20And he never lost possession.
14:21Gaining control and then landing out of bounds on his back.
14:25The ruling on the field stands.
14:28Strong guy.
14:29He's used that big frame to catch five balls tonight.
14:31Leonard has become the leading rusher on the Irish.
14:35And he scoots for another first down inside the 40.
14:38Nice block by Pendleton on the left side there.
14:45Love up the middle.
14:47Runs through a tackle.
14:49Jeremiah Love rambling down near the 20s.
14:52The Irish are grabbing chunks now.
14:54That's 18 more.
14:59Love.
15:00First stroke in the middle.
15:01Love to the end zone.
15:03And the Irish take the lead.
15:12A ton of room here.
15:14Good block by Pendleton on the inside to kind of get the play started.
15:18He's got a good inside block there to get a good push.
15:21See the tight end, 87, coming over from the right.
15:24Cooper Flanagan to help out.
15:25But really to me it's about the back of his feet.
15:28He's patient, he's patient.
15:29Bang, he gets his foot in the ground.
15:30Look at that acceleration.
15:31Against those safeties have been making so many tackles.
15:34And this time I think they're surprised by how quickly he shot out of the end
15:38at the backside of that hole for this touchdown.
15:41Jeremiah.
15:42Shuler and Morrison and Craig.
15:46Wegman backpedals and throws it to the bench.
15:49Nobody opened him.
15:56Pressure comes.
15:58Wegman has time.
15:59But again, a miscommunication.
16:01Nobody opened.
16:03Even a backer has done a great job.
16:05Kaiser walked out.
16:07Try to get it on the ground.
16:09And getting out near the marker is Moss.
16:12He's a couple of yards short.
16:16Got to have two yards.
16:19Just two timeouts if they don't convert.
16:21That won't be enough.
16:25Moss is the bat.
16:27Trying to get the Irish to jump.
16:28They don't.
16:29They're going to throw for it.
16:31Incomplete.
16:32The Irish take over as Christian Gray jumped the route.
16:37And this elite secondary makes one play to get the football back.
16:42Trying to go three for three and put this one away.
16:46Can the Aggies get in there and block it?
16:48Create some mayhem.
16:50Dick is driven right through.
16:55And Notre Dame is going to come to Kyle Field
16:58and come away with a huge victory to start this campaign
17:02and begin to build their resume as a playoff team.
17:05I love Marcus Freeman's approach as a head coach tonight.