JD Bertrand ejected for targeting in fourth quarter vs Cal

Notre Dame looked like it sealed a victory against Cal with an interception on Saturday. But a targeting call on JD Bertrand wiped it away — and Bertrand got ejected as a result.

Bertrand was called for a hit on a defenseless player with less than a minute to play in the Fighting Irish’s Week 3 matchup and, upon review, it was revealed the hit occurred before the interception. That meant the play was wiped away and a 15-yard penalty was assessed.

As a result of the ejection, Bertrand will miss the first half of Notre Dame’s game against North Carolina next week.

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Notre Dame shook a slow start to grab a late lead over the Golden Bears as Marcus Freeman continued to search for his first win as head coach after two straight losses to start the season. He ended up getting it — and had quite a reaction in the postgame interview with NBC.

Marcus Freeman reacts to first win as Notre Dame head coach

It came down to the final play after a late penalty and a replay review, but Marcus Freeman did it. He got his first win as Notre Dame head coach — and expressed the thoughts of many Fighting Irish fans afterward.

“Phew,” he said to start his postgame interview.

The Fighting Irish held on for a 24-17 victory over Cal at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday after the Golden Bears’ Hail mary attempt fell incomplete after what felt like an eternity. But finally, after three games at the helm — counting last year’s bowl game — Freeman has a victory to his name.

But he made sure to credit the people who helped him get to this point after notching that first win.

“This is for this place,” he told NBC’s Zora Stephenson. “This is for the University of Notre Dame, this is for these kids who just work their tails off. I’m so happy for them and proud of them. This is going to be one of many to come.”