Coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Combating Irish will face the Ohio State Buckeyes or Texas Longhorns within the School Soccer Playoff finale Jan. 20 in Atlanta. File Picture by Bonnie Money/UPI | License Photo
MIAMI, Jan. 9 (UPI) — Christian Grey’s fingers scraped the grass for an interception within the closing seconds, which led to a go-ahead discipline purpose and carried Notre Dame previous Penn State on Friday within the first School Soccer Playoff semifinal.
The Combating Irish, seeded sixth within the School Soccer Playoff, trailed 10-0, however rallied with a robust second half within the 27-24 Orange Bowl triumph at Exhausting Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. They’ll now face No. 7 Texas or No. 8 Ohio State within the Jan. 20 title recreation.
“These guys are a bunch of savages,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman stated on the ESPN broadcast. “They’re constructed totally different. I am so happy with them, simply what they’ve completed, the way in which they keep collectively and discover methods to enhance.
“After they keep collectively, they’re a particular group.”
The Irish (14-1), who personal a national-best 13-game successful streak, out-gained the No. 6 Nittany Lions (13-3) 383 to 339 in complete yards.
They struggled to get going within the first half, with the Nittany Lions holding a 141 to fifteen benefit in speeding yards by way of the primary two quarters. The Irish responded with 111 speeding yards within the second half.
“I am a agency believer in whether or not you suppose you’ll be able to or cannot do one thing, you are proper,” Irish quarterback Riley Leonard stated. “We consider that we will do it and we went on the market and did it.” The Nittany Lions leaned on a robust cross rush, which totaled 5 sacks, to startle an Irish offensive line that featured a number of backups because of accidents to starters. Operating again Nicholas Singleton, who totaled 117 yards and three scores, was the star of the Nittany Lions offense.
Protection dominated early on, with neither the Irish nor Nittany Lions scoring factors within the first quarter. Nittany Lions kicker Ryan Barker ended the drought with a 20-yard discipline purpose 8 seconds into the second. The Nittany Lions used 15 performs to go 90 yards on their subsequent drive, with Singleton discovering the tip zone on a 5-yard run.
Leonard left the sport to be checked for a concussion on the ultimate drive of the primary half, however backup quarterback Steve Angeli managed to get the Irish in discipline purpose vary in reduction of the starter.
Kicker Mitch Jeter break up the uprights from 41 yards to make the rating 10-3 at halftime.
Leonard returned to begin the second half and sparked an eight-play, 75-yard landing drive. He ran for a 3-yard rating to finish that possession. The Irish protection pressured punts on the Nittany Lions’ subsequent two drives.
Leonard and the offense discovered the tip zone once more to proceed a surge of 17-consecutive factors a couple of minute into the fourth quarter. Operating again Jeremiyah Love muscled by way of defenders with a really bodily 2-yard run earlier than reaching the ball over the purpose line to cap that drive and provides the Irish their first lead.
However the Nittany Lions answered with one other Singleton rating about 4 minutes later. Leonard threw an interception on the subsequent play, giving the ball and momentum again to the Nittany Lions.
Singleton’s third speeding rating, a 7-yard run, got here lower than 3 minutes later. Leonard answered together with his longest completion of the night time, discovering broad receiver Jaden Greathouse with a 54-yard landing toss.
The Irish by no means trailed once more.
They pressured a 3-and-out and Nittany Lions punt on the subsequent possession, but in addition had been pressured to punt when their offense stalled.
Singleton began the subsequent drive with a 13-yard run with 38 seconds remaining. Allar then dropped again to cross a couple of seconds later, however went on to make his essential error. He regarded to his left earlier than throwing a cross proper.
Grey stored his eyes locked on the ball and dove towards the throw, snagging his game-changing interception.
Jeter then snuck his go-ahead, 41-yard discipline purpose simply inside the best upright with seven seconds remaining, giving the Irish their closing lead.
Allar and the Nittany Lions failed to maneuver into scoring vary earlier than time expired on their closing drive, sealing the Irish victory.
Leonard accomplished 15 of 23 passes for 223 yards, one rating and two interceptions. He additionally ran for 35 yards and a rating on 18 carries. Greathouse totaled 105 yards on seven catches, together with his landing. Allar accomplished 12 of 23 passes for 135 yards and an interception within the loss.
The Irish will face the Longhorns or Buckeyes within the nationwide title recreation Jan. 20 in Atlanta. The Buckeyes will tackle the Longhorns within the Cotton Bowl, the opposite School Soccer Playoff semifinal, at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That assembly will air on ESPN.
