The Fighting Irish advanced in the College Football Playoff, with No. 7 Notre Dame defeating No. 2 Georgia 23-10 to advance to the semifinals.
Notre Dame will play No. 6 Penn State, which defeated No. 3 Boise State, on January 9th to determine a spot in the national championship.
The game was scheduled to be played Wednesday night, but was postponed to Thursday afternoon due to the horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans. Caesars Superdome was still packed for the game, and a moment of silence was observed for those killed and injured in the senseless act of violence.
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Notre Dame Irish quarterback Riley Leonard attempts a pass Thursday against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Stephen Lu-Iman image)
The chants of “USA!” could be heard even before the national anthem was heard throughout the stadium.
Once the game started, both teams played stifling defense, but couldn't put any points on the scoreboard until the Bulldogs finally kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 3-0 early in the second quarter. Ta.
But it may have been more than that, as Georgia receiver Arian Smith caught a pass from Gunner Stockton and took it 67 yards to the Notre Dame 11-yard line. But one of the strangest penalties was called for a 15-yard run. That's when the sideline referee collided with walk-on cornerback Parker Jones, who hadn't played all season and was on the sideline wearing a jersey without pads.
Notre Dame opens Sugar Bowl with back-to-back ties forcing kicker penalty
A 15-yard penalty ended up hurting Georgia, who settled for a field goal that would have given them four more points.
But Notre Dame not only converted a field goal on the ensuing drive, but Mitch Jeter made a 48-yard shot late in the first half to take a 6-3 lead with 39 seconds left.
The Fighting Irish were probably fine heading to the locker room with the lead despite not finding the end zone, but on the first play of Georgia's next drive, Stockton hit linebacker Everything changed when he was stripped by RJ Oben.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman RJ Orben (left) faces Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton during the first half of the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. Fumble and knock the ball away. (Stephen Lou Iman image)
As the ball bounced off the turf, Notre Dame junior Tuihalamaka pounced on it, giving quarterback Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish offense the ball on the Georgia 13-yard line and finally entering the end zone. He showed some leeway.
That's exactly what happened when Leonard threw a strike to wide receiver Beau Collins for a 13-yard score for a 13-3 lead at the half.
It was a boost for Notre Dame as they looked to get the ball in their hands to start the second half. And that's when the game completely turned in the Fighting Irish's favor.
Jaden Harrison took Notre Dame's kickoff and brought it home, running 98 yards to the left sideline to give his team a 20-3 lead. Head coach Marcus Freeman loved every moment of it as he celebrated with his staff on the sideline.
Notre Dame Irish wide receiver Beau Collins scores a touchdown in the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl Thursday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Amber Searles-Imagn Images)
Meanwhile, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart knows he needs to get his sons kicking into high gear, and Stockton finally got his team back when Cash Jones was left alone in the third quarter. I was able to send one of my mates into the end zone. A 32-yard wheel route for six people.
But that was all the Bulldogs would get in the second half, and Notre Dame's defense then committed two turnover-on-down drives, including incomplete passes on fourth and fifth to Lawson Lackey. was forced to do so, clinching victory.
Looking at the box score, it wasn't great for Leonard, who threw for only 88 yards, but didn't throw an interception and rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiver Jordan Faison also had solid production for Notre Dame with four catches for 46 yards.
Notre Dame's Jaden Harrison celebrates after returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the second half during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
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For Georgia, Stockton completed 18 of 29 for 225 yards and a touchdown pass. The Fighting Irish were able to hold off the Bulldogs' stalwart running back Trevor Etienne, who gained just 38 yards on 11 carries.
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