WATCH: Notre Dame's Jack Kiser picks off Jordan Yates for touchdown
Notre Dame just played their best quarter of football this year, and linebacker Jack Kiser had a 15 minutes to remember.
On Georgia Tech’s first possession of the game, Isaiah Foskey infiltrated the pocket and was about to sack Yellow Jackets quarterback Jordan Yates. Yates tried to get the ball out, and threw it right into Kiser’s hands. He returned it for six points, his second pick-six of the season.
Kiser nearly had another score on the same drive, as linebacker JD Bertand hit Yates, the ball popped out, and Kiser picked it up. He ran it inside the 5 yard line, but the play was ruled a forward pass.
Unfortunately, Kiser left the game with a foot injury at the start of the second quarter.
Irish up big at the half
The Irish lead Georgia Tech 45-0 at halftime. They had 24 points in the first half after having just 35 first quarter points all year. On the topic of first quarter scoring troubles, Jonathan Doerer got the scoring started with a 41-yard field goal. It was the first time Notre Dame has scored on their initial possession since the Sept. 11 game against Toledo.
The 45 first quarter points is their highest total since 2017.
Quarterback Jack Coan is 15-of-18 with 285 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Michael Mayer has a 52-yard touchdown reception, his fifth of the year. He is chasing the Irish single-season tight end record of six touchdown catches.
The Irish have not allowed a touchdown this month. The last time they let a team reach the end zone was Oct. 30 against North Carolina.
Notre Dame is seeking their 41st consecutive win against an unranked opponent and their fifth straight year with double-digit wins. They will play their final regular season game of the season at Stanford next weekend.