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WATCH: Notre Dame takes lead on electrifying kickoff return TD

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•09/25/21•

SamraSource

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Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Notre Dame needed a boost, and they got one and more from their special teams unit. With the Fighting Irish offense sputtering, Chris Tyree took a kickoff 96 yards to the end-zone to give Notre Dame the lead.

Tyree burst through the hole, and uses his blazing speed to outrun everyone on the field. With one play, the Notre Dame running back swung the game back into the hands of the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame’s offense has been moving slow all day, and it was put into a bigger hole when Jack Coan left the game with an injury. Now, they’ve been giving a lifeline from their kick returner.

Now, the Fighting Irish have a golden chance to keep the Wisconsin Badgers away. We’ll see if Tyree’s touchdown propels them, or if Notre Dame squanders the lead.

Notre Dame: QB Jack Coan injured

Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan came off the field limping and went to the injury tent, then the locker room, midway through the third quarter of Notre Dame’s battle with Coan’s former team Wisconsin.

“Just watched Jack Coan try to throw a pass on the sideline,” The Athletic’s Jesse Temple said. “He couldn’t even finish the follow-through without showing considerable pain. He’s back in the tent.”

In relief, Notre Dame second-year freshman Drew Pyne has taken over, as freshman quarterback backup Tyler Buchner is also hurt.

Prior to exiting, Coan completed 15 of 29 pass attempts for 158 yards and one touchdown.

Jack Coan transferred to Notre Dame in January after four seasons at Wisconsin. The incumbent starter heading into 2020, Coan suffered a broken foot prior to the season and in relief, Graham Mertz led Wisconsin to a 4-3 record, and held on to the starting job.

In his time at Wisconsin, Jack Coan threw for 4,106 yards, 31 touchdowns and ten interceptions, completing over 67% of his passes. In 2019, Coan threw for 2,727 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. Coan led the Badgers to a first place finish in the Big Ten West and the Rose Bowl, where Wisconsin lost to Oregon 28-27. 

After transferring, Coan won the starting quarterback job. So far, he has led the Fighting Irish to an undefeated record with wins over Florida State, Toledo and Purdue. In the first three games of the season, Coan threw for 828 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions, completing nearly 63% of his passes. Coan notably, popped his dislocated finger back into place before throwing a game-winning touchdown against Toledo.