Live updates, score, highlights: Notre Dame football at NC State

Notre Dame traveled to Raleigh, N.C., to face North Carolina State in the Irish’s first road game of the season and the Wolfpack’s home opener.

Follow along for BlueandGold.com‘s live updates as Notre Dame takes on NC State.

First quarter: Notre Dame at NC State

• NC State won the toss and elected to defer. Sam Hartman and company start with the ball.

• The Irish offense starts with a three-and-out, including a sack-fumble on Hartman that the Irish recovered. NC State graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong have great field position early.

• A tackle for loss by graduate safety DJ Brown, a penalty and a nice job by graduate linebackers JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau to keep Armstrong from scrambling earned the Fighting Irish defense a three-and-out of their own. Irish ball deep in their own territory.

• Another three-and-out for the Irish offense. NC State is swarming to the ball and Notre Dame hasn’t come close to a first down in two possessions.

• Nickel cornerback Thomas Harper makes a big play early, with a pass breakup on third down. Notre Dame forces a second consecutive three-and-out and will start drive No. 3 inside its own 15.

• A failed flea-flicker that results in intentional grounding stalls a promising drive for the Irish, but Spencer Shrader’s 54-yard field goal is good. It was his first in Blue and Gold and, according to ND’s public relations team, the longest field goal in program history. Notre Dame 3, NC State 0.

• The first quarter ends with NC State driving but facing third-and-long.

Second quarter

• Armstrong’s throw on third-and-8 is off target. Notre Dame forces another punt.

• Lighting is in the area and the game is being suspended.

• The game is scheduled to resume at 2:35 p.m. ET, provided there are no more lightning strikes.

• On the first play after the rain delay, Audric Estimé runs 80 yards for a touchdown. A great block by Joe Alt sprung him and Estimé did the rest. Nice block by Tobias Merriweather as well. Notre Dame 10, NC State 0.

• Notre Dame caught a break with an NC State drop on third-and-4. Thomas Harper was in coverage, but Porter Rooks just dropped it. … And then Jack Kiser jumped offside, gifting NC State a first down.

• The offside did not hurt Notre Dame, thanks to some strong play from the starting front four. Howard Cross III, Jordan Botelho, Rylie Mills and Javontae Jean-Baptiste had excellent reps in that series to force an NC State punt.

• NC State got the ball back down by 10 after a pressure from Jaylon Scott. Notre Dame center Zeke Correll missed the block on Scott.

• Sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison came down with his first interception of the season, giving Notre Dame the ball at the NC State 16.

• Notre Dame went three-and-out after the interception. Nothing doing for the Irish offense since the long Estimé touchdown.

• Another stop for the Irish defense. Harper put pressure on Armstrong on a blitz and Cam Hart broke up the pass on third down. Notre Dame football, more than halfway home in the second quarter.

• Between pressure and receivers not getting open, the ND offense has struggled on third downs. Aydan White sacked Hartman on the latest one to stall a promising Irish drive. Spencer Shrader boomed a 56-yard field goal attempt, but it hit the left upright. Still 10-0. The drive was made possible by a 45-yard catch-and-run from Merriweather.

• Armstrong got out of the pocket and fired a strike to eighth-year receiver Bradley Rozner for a touchdown on third down. The Irish have 1:16 to do something before halftime. Three consecutive penalties on the Notre Dame defense helped get NC State into scoring position, and Marcus Freeman was not happy. Notre Dame 10, NC State 7

• What a response by the Fighting Irish. Hartman extended a play and found Chris Tyree for a 65-yard gain, and on the next play he zipped a pass to freshman receiver Jaden Greathouse for a touchdown. It’s Notre Dame’s third consecutive game with a touchdown in the two-minute drill. Notre Dame 17, NC State 7.

• The half ends on a failed NC State Hail Mary attempt. 17-7 Fighting Irish.

Third quarter

• The Wolfpack drove just past midfield, but the Irish defense got a stop on third-and-six. Ramon Henderson nearly intercepted it.

• Notre Dame started its first drive of the half with what looked like a first down, but an offensive pass interference penalty on Greathouse deleted a third-down conversion to Merriweather and created third-and-17. The Irish gave Bryce McFerson some breathing room before punting it away.

• Brayden Narveson’s 49-yard field goal attempt is right down the middle for NC State after another penalty — roughing the passer on Jason Onye — helped get the Wolfpack in his range. Notre Dame 17, NC State 10.

• Once again, the Fighting Irish responded. Sophomore tight end Holden Staes gained 68 yards by himself, including a 40-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Notre Dame 24, NC State 10.

• NC State comes right back and makes it a one-score game again. Armstrong found receiver Juice Vereen on third down to get the Wolfpack to the one-yard line, and he punched it in on a QB sweep the next play. Remember when no one could score? Notre Dame 24, NC State 17.

• Hartman put the ball on the ground again. This time, NC State recovered. Defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland forced it out. Wolfpack ball deep in Fighting Irish territory.

• The Irish defense made a big stop and then got a huge break. Narveson missed a 34-yard field goal, hooking it left. Notre Dame takes over at its own 20-yard line.

Fourth quarter

• The Irish came out with a super-heavy formation on third-and-two and got stuffed. NC State ball, down by one score.

• Xavier Watts picks off the first pass of his career. Another break for Notre Dame with an NC State drop, but it was great grab by Watts. The Irish have another chance to put some breathing room between themselves and the Wolfpack, taking over in NC State territory.

• Put some breathing room between themselves and NC State, they did. Hartman throws to Davis Sherwood on a similar play to the one Staes scored on. Notre Dame 31, NC State 17.

• The Irish secondary made another big play. This time it’s DJ Brown, who jumped a route and picked off Armstrong to set up Notre Dame in the red zone.

• Touchdown, Estimé. This one is just about done. Notre Dame 38, NC State 17.

• NC State turns it over on downs. Irish football with 7:38 to go and a 17-point lead.

• Touchdown Staes again, his second of the day and third of the season and the rout is officially on. Notre Dame 45, NC State 17.

• NC State scores in garbage time. It’s Clemson transfer Dacari Collins. Notre Dame 45, NC State 24.

• FINAL: Notre Dame 45, NC State 24.