All fans could do was wait for the lightning bolts to simmer down before resuming the game between Stanford Cardinal and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame IN on Sat Oct 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Notre Dame scored 49 unanswered points Saturday, as the No. 11-ranked Fighting Irish rolled past Stanford 49-7 in non-conference football before 77,622 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

Play was interrupted at the start of the fourth quarter as inclement weather with lightning passed through the area. The game was held up for one hour before resuming at 7:10 p.m. local time.

Notre Dame gained 477 yards in total offense, while the Cardinal gained 200. The Fighting Irish had the edge in first downs 24-14 and converted three fourth down plays and converted 6 of 11 third downs.

The Cardinal (2-5 overall, 1-2 ACC) scored first when Justin Lamson ran in front of one yard out. After Emmet Kenney added the extra point at 6:49 of the first quarter, it was all Notre Dame.

Riley Leonard’s 6-yard touchdown run out of the shotgun with 1:27 to play in the opening quarter tied the game at 7-7. The Irish (5-1 overall) went ahead to stay when Leonard completed a 15-yard scoring pass to Jayden Thomas at 7:46 of the second quarter.

With 1:11 to play in the first half, Leonard’s 5-yard TD pass to Kris Mitchell gave Notre Dame a 21-7 lead at the break.

The second half started with an ominous tone for the Cardinal when Tiger Bachmeier bobbled the kickoff at his own 3-yard-line. Three minutes later, Jadarian Price ran 16 yards for a Notre Dame touchdown.

Jeremiyah Love ran 39 yards up the middle for the next Irish touchdown at 6:49 of the third quarter. Five minutes and 20 seconds later, Notre Dame extended its lead to 42-7 on a 5-yard TD pass from Leonard to Eli Raridon.

The Fighting Irish wrapped up the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run by Aneyas Williams at 9:17 of the fourth quarter.

Leonard completed 16 of 22 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Love rushed for 52 yards on six carries, and Price gained 49 yards on 12 carries. Mitchell and Beaux Collins each caught four passes.

Daniels threw for 74 yards on 8 of 13 passing but was sacked three times. Daniels also ran for 42 yards on 14 attempts. Chris Davis Jr, led the Cardinal ballcarriers with 45 rushing yards on 10 carries. Elic Ayomanor caught three passes for 16 yards.

Next week, the Cardinal return to Atlantic Coast Conference play when they return home to host Southern Methodist. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. Pacific.