Notre Dame builds 21-0 lead on Syracuse before offense takes the field

No. 9 Notre Dame’s offense received quite the head start on Saturday against Syracuse.

The Fighting Irish scored three touchdowns in the first quarter before its offense took one single snap. That’s what happens when you sandwich two pick-6s around a punt return touchdown. And Jalen Stroman played a big role.

Syracuse opened the game with the ball and turned the ball over less than a minute into the first quarter when Stroman intercepted a Joseph Filardi pass and returned it 44 yards for a TD and a 7-0 lead.

The Orange then went three-and-out on their second drive, and Stroman blocked a Jack Stonehouse punt. The ball bounced right to Luke Talich, and he easily returned the ball 22 yards for a TD.

Leonard Moore got in on the fun on Syracuse’s next drive as he intercepted Filardi on third down and returned the pass 46 yards for an interception.

The misery ended for Syracuse on its fourth drive, but only slightly. Luke Carney replaced Filardi at quarterback, The Orange didn’t get a first down, but Carney didn’t throw an interception and Stonehouse didn’t get his punt blocked. However, Syracuse did commit a personal foul on the punt, as Notre Dame’s offense finally came onto the field with 7:08 to go in the first quarter at its own 41-yard line.

And it only took two plays for the Irish to score again. After a CJ Carr completion, RB Jeremiyah Love ran 45 yards for a TD and a four-possession lead.