What they’re saying after Notre Dame’s 24-17 win over Cal
After a tight loss to Ohio State week one and a stunning defeat at the hands of Marshall in the home opener Sept. 10, Notre Dame got its first win of the fall — and first of the Marcus Freeman era — on Saturday against Cal.
In this article, we’ll take a look around at what the media is saying about Notre Dame’s win, including Blue & Gold’s Mike Singer and Tim Hyde giving their instant reaction in a postgame live YouTube show.
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Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold: Notre Dame edges Cal 24-17 for first win of season
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Five thoughts from Notre Dame’s 24-17 defeat of California, which gave the Irish their first win this season and Marcus Freeman his first victory as head coach.
1. Lots of Chris Tyree
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said he needed to find ways to highlight junior running back Chris Tyree’s ability. Tyree had nine rushes and three catches in the first two games despite playing the most snaps of the Irish’s three backs.
On that, Rees delivered.
Tyree had as many touches in the first half as he did in the first two games. He had six on Notre Dame’s first scoring drive, including a 10-yard run and a 21-yard touchdown catch.
Tyree has enough wiggle and lower-body power to hold up on runs between the tackles. He’s a home-run threat on every play. His vision and open-field elusiveness make him a screen pass weapon. Screens are easy throws for a backup quarterback trying to find some rhythm and help the offense stay ahead of schedule. The more of them for Tyree, the better.
All told, Tyree had 17 carries for 64 yards and a team-high five receptions for 44 yards. The 17 carries tied a career high. The 22 touches were a career best.
Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold: Grading Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame football in win over Cal
Notre Dame earned its first victory of the 2022 season and the first of head coach Marcus Freeman‘s career with a 24-17 triumph over Cal at Notre Dame Stadium. This report card isn’t one you necessarily pin to the fridge, but it’s not one you hide from mom either.
Here’s how the Fighting Irish graded across the board in their win.
Notre Dame Passing Offense: B
Simplistic. Far from flashy. Yet, effective.
Notre Dame isn’t going to get a grade of “A” here until it finds an element of verticality. Those who thought it would come with junior Drew Pyne’s first career start have to wait. Pyne showed what should be a strong suit all season, though: His ability to make the right decisions on run-pass-options.
The Irish started the game with one intended for sophomore wide receiver Lorenzo Styles. Pyne missed low. He missed low on a similar play intended for junior tight end Michael Mayer on the Irish’s second drive. After that, Pyne was money on quick passes after play-action into the flats. If a team can’t throw downfield, it better be able to create space with those. Notre Dame did.
A stat line of 17-for-23 for 150 yards and two touchdowns won’t “wow” anybody in 2022. But it won a ballgame against Cal. And it can continue to work for Notre Dame in games that don’t devolve into shootouts.
Jeff Faraudo, Marin Independent Journal: Cal fades in the fourth, last-second Hail Mary pass falls incomplete in loss at Notre Dame
Cal quarterback Jack Plummer shared the same reaction many Old Blues probably felt after Notre Dame escaped with a 24-17 win on Saturday over the Bears in the first meeting between the two programs in 55 years.
“We had ‘em, we had ‘em,” Plummer said. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t have won that game.”
The outcome was still somehow up for grabs on the final snap in front of 77,622 fans at Notre Dame Stadium.
Plummer’s “Hail Mary” heave from the Irish 35-yard line was tipped multiple times in the end zone and barely escaped the clutches of Cal wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter, who was on the ground, before the ball bounced to the turf.
“Gut-wrenching,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox called it. “We had chances to win. Too many errors. We needed one or two more plays.”
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The Bears led 7-0 early in the second quarter, 10-7 at halftime and 17-14 entering the final period. But they found themselves on their own 20-yard line with 1:03 to play and no timeouts.
The game appeared to be over when Plummer’s first-down pass was picked off by Clarence Lewis. But linebacker JD Bertrand was called for a targeting hit on Jaydn Ott, giving the Bears a first down at the 35.
Six plays later, on third-and-7 from the Irish 29, Plummer fumbled while being pressured and cornerback TaRiq Bracy scooped up the ball and dashed the length of the field for an apparent touchdown. But a video review showed Plummer’s right knee was down before the ball came loose.
Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune: Yeah, that wasn’t pretty, but the end result was — and needed — for Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND — You couldn’t really see it as the head coach exited early Saturday evening, as much as you could sense it.
Somewhere along the way, once the post-game stuff was done and the sun had set, there might even be a celebration, maybe a presentation of the game ball, which would go somewhere on some mantle for Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman.
But that was stuff for later.
For then, for that night, you could sense that a weight greater than anyone in college football has ever known — the only ones who do are the ones who have done what Freman has done in the place that he’s doing it —lifted from his entire existence.
Freeman didn’t walk off the field and up the tunnel and into the home locker room at Notre Dame Stadium as much as he floated. After two really tough losses, and tougher days on the practice field and in the meeting rooms, Freeman would take that first win as the Irish head coach any way that he could get it.
Nick Bromberg, Yahoo! Sports: Bettors sweat out an overturned TD and a near epic Hail Mary at the end of Notre Dame’s win over Cal
Bettors went on a roller coaster ride in the final seconds of Notre Dame’s 24-17 win over Cal.
The Irish closed as 13.5-point favorites over the Bears and the total closed at 41.5. Those are important numbers to know ahead of reading how the end of Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman’s first win as a head coach transpired.
Cal got the ball with 1:03 to go trailing by seven and drove down to the Notre Dame 29 with less than 30 seconds to go. As QB Jack Plummer went to escape pressure on a third down, he appeared to fumble the ball as he was going to the ground. That’s how it looked, anyway. The ball was picked up by TaRiq Bracy and he raced to the end zone for what appeared to be a covering and game-clinching touchdown.
The play was immediately reviewed, however. And it was clear that Plummer was down before the ball left his hand. And even if he wasn’t, it would have been an incomplete pass.
