Notre Dame vs. Purdue game balls
With the epic 16-14 upset loss to Northern Illinois finally and officially in the rearview mirror, Notre Dame returned to play Saturday at Purdue after a long and hard week of intense scrutiny.
And, the Irish responded, big time.
In an efficient performance, Notre Dame scored on its first possession of the game, built a 42-0 halftime lead, and never looked back in a 66-7 win, its ninth-straight victory over the Boilers.
The blowout win provided plenty of game-ball candidates.
We settled on these three.
Quarterback Riley Leonard
Following a week of ridicule and reflection, the Irish senior answered his critics when he needed only two quarters to rush 11 times for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Substituted out at halftime with Notre Dame leading 42-0, Leonard still managed 11-of-16 passing for 112 yards in the first half with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
And while Leonard still has no touchdown passes for the Irish this season, none were needed against the Boilers in what became the second 100-yard rushing game, and the second 3-touchdown rushing game Leonard has posted in his career.
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Tailback Jeremiyah Love
Considered one of the more consistent performers on the Irish offense this season, the sophomore tailback tallied 10 carries, for 109 yards and 1 touchdown in the rout of Purdue.
The first 100-yard rushing game of his career, Love set an early offensive tone for the Irish on the fifth play of the game when he went 48 yards over the right side for a touchdown, a 7-0 Irish lead, and his third scoring run of the season.
Love, who sat out most of the second half, averaged 10.9 yards per carry.
LB/DL Boubacar Traore
A balanced defensive effort that included many terrific individual performances, and gave the Irish coaches a chance to empty the bench in the second half, made handing out game balls difficult on this side of the ball.
Notre Dame allowed Purdue only 162 offensive yards and 3.3 yards per play Saturday.
But, this sophomore hybrid gets the game ball after recording the first interception of his career, He returned it 34 yards for a touchdown to push the Irish first-half lead to 35-0, and close any doubts on the final outcome in this impressive defensive performance.
Traore added 2 tackles, both for loss, with 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry.
