Senior quarterback Ian Book passed for 360 yards and five touchdowns, and No. 7 Notre Dame rolled to a 66-14 win over visiting New Mexico on Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
Javon McKinley had two touchdown receptions for the Fighting Irish (2-0), who won their 12th consecutive game at home. Chase Claypool led all Notre Dame receivers with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Lobos quarterback Tevaka Tuioti completed 6 of 13 passes for 132 yards after coming in to replace starter Sheriron Jones. New Mexico (1-1) played under Saga Tuitele, who coached in place of Bob Davie as he recovers from a health scare.
Notre Dame outgained New Mexico 591-363 in the first meeting between the programs.
Chris Finke snagged a shovel pass from Book and transformed it into a 54-yard touchdown to put the Fighting Irish ahead 45-7 within the first two minutes of the second half. It was the fifth career touchdown reception for the speedy senior.
Book remained in the game to lead another scoring drive, which culminated with his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon. He hit McKinley for his second touchdown reception, this time a 20-yard strike, with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
Fighting Irish running back C'Bo Flemister scored on a 1-yard run to make it 59-7 with 14:25 to go in the fourth quarter.
After Notre Dame backup quarterback Brendon Clark threw for a 22-yard touchdown to wide receiver Braden Lenzy midway through the fourth quarter, New Mexico notched its second score. Running back Bobby Cole swept around the right side for a 37-yard rushing touchdown with 6:26 to play to cut the deficit to 66-14.
Notre Dame built a 38-7 halftime lead.
The Fighting Irish led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter before outscoring the Lobos by a whopping 31-7 margin in the second quarter. Book finished 11 of 19 for 251 yards and three touchdowns before the intermission.
Bryson Carroll had New Mexico's lone touchdown of the first half when he scored on a 47-yard run in the final minute before the break.
--Field Level Media
New Mexico | Notre Dame | |
Bryson Carroll | Player | Ian Book |
6 | Attempts | 9 |
69 | Yards | 46 |
11.5 | Avg Yards | 5.1 |
1 | Touchdowns | 1 |
0 | Long | 0 |
New Mexico | Notre Dame | |
Aaron Molina | Player | Chase Claypool |
2 | Receptions | 4 |
79 | Yards | 96 |
39.5 | Avg Yards | 24.0 |
0 | Touchdowns | 1 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
New Mexico | 363 | 212 | 151 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 |
Notre Dame | 591 | 157 | 434 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 |