The primary-ever 12-team School Soccer Playoff is now underway with the primary sport within the books. The Indiana Hoosiers took on the Notre Dame Combating Irish on what was a chilly evening in South Bend.
Notre Dame got here away with the win, advancing to the quarterfinals of the School Soccer Playoff. The ultimate rating got here in as 27-17, with Indiana scoring their two touchdowns on the very finish of the sport.
The sport was nowhere close to as shut as the ultimate rating indicated because the Hoosiers made a last-second comeback try.
On account of Notre Dame being the higher-ranked seed within the bracket, they hosted this sport. The group was rowdy from the bounce and made the primary life for the Hoosiers troublesome.
Indiana regarded out of kinds and shortly punted the ball away to the Combating Irish offense. Nonetheless, the Indiana protection swiftly acquired the ball again on an interception from Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard.
Simply when it appeared that the Hoosiers may take management early on, quarterback Kurtis Rourke was picked off near the endzone. Then, on the very subsequent play, the Combating Irish would strike to open the scoring.
Working again Jeremiyah Love burst via the Hoosiers’ protection for an explosive 98-yard landing.
On the finish of the primary quarter, Notre Dame led 7-0 over the Hoosiers. Notre Dame had 131 speeding yards within the first quarter.
Indiana got here into the sport permitting simply 70 yards on the bottom all through the season. Probably the most Indiana had allowed in a full sport was 137 in opposition to Charlotte.
On the finish of the second quarter, Notre Dame had prolonged their lead. Indiana trailed Notre Dame by a rating of 17-3 in an totally dominant first half from the Combating Irish.
Notre Dame led 20-3 heading into the ultimate quarter.
Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs
Indiana entered this sport with a report of 11-1 on the season, with the one loss coming by the hands of Ohio State. As soon as once more, the Hoosiers struggled to match the physicality of the Combating Irish, an analogous pattern to what occurred in opposition to the Buckeyes.
Throughout the season, Rourke confirmed the flexibility to make performs with each his arm and legs all through the season, serving to Indiana grow to be an explosive offensive assault. Nonetheless, the Combating Irish protection induced large issues for the signal-caller and the Hoosiers may by no means get off the bottom.
They finish their season in a tricky method however exit after a really profitable yr.
As for Notre Dame, they now have a date with the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs within the Sugar Bowl. The sport will happen on Jan. 1, 2025, on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Georgia would be the favourite coming into the sport however the Combating Irish protection may make issues attention-grabbing. The Bulldogs battled all season however they are going to be with out beginning quarterback Carson Beck, who’s out with an harm.
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