There are few things better than sticking it to a rival.
That’s a sentiment Notre Dame felt firsthand Saturday night, as it dominated Michigan, 31-0, in what could be the last matchup between the two rivals for quite some time. Quarterback Everett Golson fueled the attack, throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-34 passing.
“It only counts for one,” said Irish coach Brian Kelly. “But I’d be lying if I told you that it didn’t feel great to shut out Michigan 31-0.”
Wide receivers William Fuller and Amir Carlisle benefited from Golson’s hot hand, bringing in a combined 16 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. But the story of the night was the Notre Dame defense, which held the Wolverines to just 2.9 yards per rush and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions from Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner.
Meanwhile, fellow Division 1 FBS Catholic school Boston College didn’t fare as well.
After spending the majority of last season running opponents into the ground, the Eagles got a little taste of their own medicine on Friday night. Pittsburgh doled out 303 yards rushing on its way to securing a 30-20 victory.
Quarterback Tyler Murphy struggled in the passing game, but dazzled with his feet. The senior transfer from Florida threw for 134 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on 10-of-28 passing while rushing for another 92 yards on 16 carries, including a 51-yard scamper for a score.
But after Murphy, Boston College’s run offense was practically non-existent; the rest of the team rushed for just 50 yards on 18 carries (2.7 YPC).
“Real simple equation here, in my opinion: We couldn’t stop the run on defense and couldn’t establish the run on offense,” said Eagles coach Steve Addazio. “We knew coming into this game that we had to stop the run, and we didn’t do it.”
Results for Catholic colleges around the US
Catholic schools, in italics below, went 22-15 this weekend.
Division I FBS
Pittsburgh 30
Boston College 20
Notre Dame 31
Michigan 0
Division I FCS
Dayton 23
Georgetown 14
Youngstown State 34
Duquesne 23
Holy Cross 29
Morgan State 26
Stephen F. Austin 38
Incarnate Word 3
Sacred Heart 27
Lafayette 14
Saint Francis 27
Clarion 13
San Diego 23
Western New Mexico 17
Villanova 50
Fordham 6
Division II
American International 27
Assumption 25
Gannon 23
Southern Connecticut 7
Bryant 40
Merrimack 14
Mary 19
Southwest Minnesota 18
Bentley 27
Mercyhurst 21
Notre Dame (Ohio) 42
Fairmount State 35
Ohio Dominican 59
Malone 14
Quincy 29
Lindenwood-Belleville 7
Saint Anselm 23
Bowie State 22
Shippensburg 55
Seton Hill 30
Bloomburg 24
Stonehill 7
Walsh 45
Tiffin 10
Division III
Central 31
Benedictine 7
McDaniel 34
Catholic 31
John Carroll 44
St. Vincent 0
Moravian 33
King’s 14
Loras 39
Elmhurst 17
Mount Saint Joseph 58
Augustana 25
Salve Regina 33
Bridgewater State 27
St. John’s 27
UW River-Falls 8
St. Norbert 25
Carthage 13
St. Scholastica 28
Ripon 27
St. Thomas 22
UW-Eau Claire 17
Wesley 35
Thomas More 20
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.