Live updates: Notre Dame football 2022 Blue-Gold Game
It’s football time in South Bend.
A new era of the Fighting Irish program will be on display Saturday afternoon when head coach Marcus Freeman conducts his first Blue-Gold Game. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner isn’t playing because of an ankle injury, but there is still plenty intrigue attached to the annual Saturday scrimmage.
Keep it here for live updates throughout the afternoon.
Blue-Gold Game live updates
First quarter
• The Gold Team went three-and-out to start. Junior Rylie Mills had a 10-yard sack on the first play of the game to put the Gold offense well behind the sticks.
– The Blue Team also went three-and-out. A false start on sophomore tackle Blake Fisher didn’t help. Junior quarterback Drew Pyne, playing for both teams, completed his first pass to sophomore Deion Colzie. He tried to find him on third down, but he sailed the attempt over his head.
• The Gold Team picked up the game’s first down on an end-around rush from fifth-year senior Braden Lenzy, but the drive stalled from there — even after a nine-yard reception from junior tight end Michael Mayer.
– Early enrollee freshman quarterback Steve Angeli entered the game for the Blue Team. He handed off to sophomore running back Audric Estime five straight times before the Blue Team had to punt. Estime looked tough to tackle on a couple of his carries, the longest going for 10 yards.
• Pyne completed passes of 24 yards to Lenzy, 11 yards on a bubble screen to sophomore wide receiver Jayden Thomas and 10 yards on an our-route to junior tight end Charlie Selna to get the Gold Team near the red zone. The first quarter ended with Gold facing a third an five situation from the 24.
Second quarter
• Pyne was pressured by junior Alex Ehrensberger, and he fluttered a picked pass to senior linebacker Jordan Botelho. Botelho had a nice 42-yard return deep into Gold territory.
– Blue Team settled for a field goal after Pyne could not connect with Colzie on third down. Sixth-year senior Blake Grupe nailed a 36-yarder.
• A fumbled punt by fifth-year wide receiver Matt Salerno set the Gold Team up in prime scoring position, but Pyne was picked off for the second time on the day by senior linebacker Marist Liufau. Pyne’s screen pass intended for Mayer was nowhere near catchable.
– Angeli’s first pass attempt of the day came midway through the second quarter. The ball had some zip, but it fell incomplete intended for Salerno on a curl route.
• Pyne’s best pass of the day came on a deep route over the middle. He found Salerno for a gain of 20.
– A well-executed screen to sophomore running back Logan Diggs gained 11 yards and put the Blue Team in an in-goal situation with just over a minute remaining in the half.
• Pyne completed 11 of 13 pass attempts on the final two drives of the half. One of those was a two-yard touchdown toss to walk-on tight end Andrew Yanoshak for the game’s first score. Blue Team took a 10-0 lead into halftime after sophomore Josh Bryan missed a 48-yard kick as time expired.
Third quarter
• Sophomore quarterback Ron Powlus III entered the game for the Blue Team. He went three-and-out on his first drive.
– Early enrollee freshman running back Jadarian Price took a 51-yard screen to the end zone. He received great lead blocking from offensive linemen Zeke Correll and Quinn Murphy as well as Thomas.
• Three of the first four drives of the third quarter resulted in three-and-outs.
– Sophomore defensive back Chance Tucker limped off the field with what appeared to be a foot or leg injury of some sort late in the frame.
Fourth quarter
• Angeli hit walk-on wide receiver Conor Ratigan for a 58-yard gain on the first play of the fourth quarter. Ratigan was wide open on a busted coverage by the Blue Team.
– Angeli missed junior walk-on wide receiver Griffin Eifert streaking into the corner of the end zone. He overthrew him. Bryan missed his second attempt of the game wide right from 37 yards. The kick would have tied the game.
• Grupe missed a field goal from 41 yards with 4:10 left. It would have put the Blue Team up 13-10.
– On the final drive of the game, Angeli led the Gold Team on a 10-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard scrambling touchdown rush by the QB as time expired. Angeli went 8-for-8 for 66 yards on the final drive.
Game Time, TV Channel: Notre Dame football Blue-Gold Game
Venue: Notre Dame Stadium (South Bend, Ind.)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: Peacock
On The Call: Tony Simeone (play-by-play), Ryan Harris (analyst), Caroline Pineda (sideline)
Radio: WSBT AM 960 | FM 101.5 | Play-by-Play: Darin Pritchett | Analyst: Sean Stires; Also available on Sirius/XM Channel 84
More Facts: This is the 91st edition of the Blue-Gold Game … Defensive line coach Al Washington is the head coach of the Blue Team … Running backs coach Deland McCullough is the head coach of the Gold Team … Rosters of both teams, which were drafted Wednesday, can be found here … Junior quarterback Drew Pyne will play for both teams … Hundreds of Notre Dame football alumni are expected to be in attendance … Notre Dame went 11-2 last year with losses to Cincinnati at home in October and Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Related Blue-Gold Game links
• Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game pregame updates, observations
– Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game: Players, position battles and themes to watch
• Notre Dame football Blue-Gold Game predictions: Which roster is better?
– Notre Dame football: Three Blue-Gold Game matchups to watch for
