No. 18 Notre Dame rolls to 66-7 win over Purdue

Field Level Media|published: Sat 14th September, 19:27 2024

Sep 14, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) drags Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) into the end zone on a touchdown during the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Riley Leonard rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns, Jeremiyah Love rushed for 109 yards and another score, and No. 18 Notre Dame cruised to a 66-7 win over Purdue on Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind.

Jadarian Price and Kenny Minchey also rushed for a touchdown for Notre Dame (2-1), which bounced back from a stunning loss against Northern Illinois one week earlier. Leonard completed 11 of 16 passes for 112 yards before he gave way to backup Steve Angeli, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Hudson Card completed 11 of 24 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Purdue (1-1).

Notre Dame posted its highest point total since Sept. 14, 2019, when it tallied a 66-14 home win against New Mexico.

Leonard also joined rare company in the blowout. He became the first FBS player with 100-plus passing yards, 100-plus rushing yards and three-plus rushing touchdowns in a half since Lamar Jackson did it for Louisville against Syracuse on Sept. 9, 2016.

The Fighting Irish raced to a 42-0 lead at halftime.

Love and Leonard notched one rushing touchdown apiece in the first quarter. Love scored on a 48-yard sprint and Leonard scored from 3 yards out to cap an 82-yard drive.

Notre Dame added four more touchdowns in the second quarter.

Leonard scored on back-to-back touchdown runs of 34 yards and 13 yards, respectively, to give the Fighting Irish a 28-0 advantage.

On the next drive, Card was intercepted by Notre Dame's Boubacar Traore, who returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.

Price added a 70-yard rushing score for Notre Dame with four seconds left in the half.

Angeli got a chance to play in the second half, and he quickly took advantage. He connected with Cooper Flanagan for a 28-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

Purdue got on the scoreboard when Card found De'Nylon Morrissette for a 5-yard touchdown with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter.

A 42-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter made it 52-7 on the next possession.

In the fourth quarter, Angeli hit Kevin Bauman for an 8-yard score, and third-string quarterback Kenny Minchey rushed for a 5-yard touchdown.

--Field Level Media

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