SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In an impressive display, Riley Leonard threw for three touchdown passes and added another rushing score, leading No. 11 Notre Dame to a decisive 49-7 victory over Stanford on Saturday.
Leonard completed 16 of 22 attempts for 229 yards along with his three touchdown passes, while also rushing six times for 31 yards and a touchdown.
The matchup experienced a delay at the end of the third quarter when lightning was reported in the vicinity, with Notre Dame leading 42-7 at the time. After an interruption lasting approximately an hour, the game resumed, and Steve Angeli took over as quarterback in place of Leonard.
Throughout the contest, Notre Dame (5-1) effectively stifled Stanford’s offense, achieving eight tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks, and recovering a fumble. The Fighting Irish were also successful in halting Stanford’s efforts on three separate fourth-down attempts.
Stanford (2-4), which had journeyed to the Eastern time zone for the third time within four weeks, managed to score first in the game. The Cardinal executed a 63-yard drive and took an early lead when quarterback Justin Lamson crossed the goal line on a one-yard run.
However, that lead rapidly evaporated as Leonard and his team quickly retaliated with a 75-yard drive, concluding with Leonard himself scoring on a six-yard run to tie the game.
By halftime, Notre Dame had established a 21-7 advantage, capitalizing on two unsuccessful fourth-down attempts by Stanford. Jayden Thomas contributed with a 15-yard touchdown reception from Leonard, while Kris Mitchell made a five-yard catch in the end zone for another score.
The Fighting Irish controlled the game further when their defense set up another touchdown. Defensive end Joshua Burnham intercepted a pitch from Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels and proceeded to carry it down to the Cardinal’s 17-yard line. Two plays later, Jadarian Price sprinted 16 yards into the end zone.
For Stanford, Ashton Daniels completed 8 of 13 passes for 74 yards while rushing 14 times for 42 yards, and Lamson completed 2 of 4 attempts for 13 yards. Chris David Jr. contributed on the ground, carrying the ball 10 times for 45 yards.
In summary, Notre Dame displayed both offensive and defensive strength, setting itself up for a robust finish to the regular season as it aims for a playoff berth.
On the other hand, Stanford, despite an initial promising scoring drive, struggled offensively throughout, having only managed to score four touchdowns in their last three outings.
As for poll implications, Notre Dame is expected to maintain its No. 11 ranking in the upcoming week.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame will travel to face Georgia Tech next Saturday, while Stanford is set to host Southern Methodist on the same day.