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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Steven Gilmore returned an interception 37 yards for a landing late within the fourth quarter and Khalan Labron ran for 163 yards as Marshall shocked No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21 Saturday, making Marcus Freeman the primary Combating Irish coach to lose his first three video games.
Gilmore, the brother of Stephon Gilmore of the Indianapolis Colts, picked off a cross by Tyler Buchner with 4:35 left, raced to the tip zone after which jumped into the stands the place Marshall followers had been already celebrating the victory.
Marshall (2-0), the primary Solar Belt Convention workforce to play at Notre Dame Stadium, beat a workforce ranked within the prime 10 for simply the second time in class historical past. The Thundering Herd beat No. 6 Kansas State 27-20 in 2003.
“I am actually pleased with the way in which our gamers competed. Notre Dame is a hell of a soccer workforce,” Marshall coach Charles Huff mentioned in his postgame, on-field interview. “Hats off to them, however our guys all week simply mentioned ‘management what we are able to management.’ I could not be extra proud.”
Freeman, the 36-yeard-old first-time head coach who was promoted after Brian Kelly left for LSU, had misplaced a bowl recreation to Oklahoma State and at Ohio State final week.
Marcus Freeman is the primary head coach in Notre Dame historical past to lose his first three video games: the Irish’s bowl recreation, season opener vs. Ohio State and now Marshall. pic.twitter.com/vzxE3DNa4y
— ESPN School Soccer (@ESPNCFB) September 10, 2022
This one will go down a lot in another way to hopeful Notre Dame followers, lots of whom packed the stadium. In all three of the losses, Notre Dame led within the second half.
Earlier within the day Saturday, after the pregame stroll throughout campus, Freeman advised the group “there is not any higher place on this nation to get our first win of this new period than right here in Notre Dame Stadium.”
The Irish had a streak of 42 straight wins towards unranked opponents snapped.
The Herd took a 19-15 lead with 5:16 remaining when Henry Colombi, a switch from Texas Tech, accomplished a 3-yard landing cross to Devin Miller. The rating was arrange by a 42-yard run by Laborn, who broke a deal with on the line of scrimmage and juked Irish security Brandon Joseph earlier than breaking free.
“With the historical past and custom of Marshall, we present up and we play onerous,” Herd mentioned. “These video games aren’t as huge to us as to different folks as a result of our children keep locked into the method.”
Any hope for a comeback by the Irish (0-2) ended when Owen Porter intercepted a cross by backup Irish quarterback Drew Pyne with three minutes remaining. Pyne threw a TD cross with 14 second left to chop the result in 5 factors.
“It is by no means straightforward to come back in right here after a loss, irrespective of who it is to,” Freeman mentioned in his postgame press convention. “It is disappointing. We did not execute, and it comes right down to execution.”
Colombi was 16-of-21 passing for 145 yards and the Thundering Herd rushed for 221 yards on 49 carries.
The Irish, who struggled offensively every week earlier in a 21-10 loss to Ohio State with a play-it-safe, ball-control recreation plan, opened the playbook towards the Herd however nonetheless struggled to get a lot going.
“We have now to take a look at ourselves as people, the entire workforce, beginning with the pinnacle coach on down, and say ‘what do I’ve to do,’ ‘what do we’ve got to do to repair the problems’,” Freeman mentioned. “We have now to take a look at the dearth of execution in all phases of our workforce.”
Buchner was 18-of-32 passing for 201 yards with two interceptions. Buchner additionally led the Irish in dashing with 44 yards on 13 carries, Michael Mayer had eight catches for 103 yards.
The Irish grabbed a 15-12 lead early within the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run up by Buchner. He then saved it and ran huge proper for the 2-point conversion. However the Irish could not mount a lot of an offense after that.
Two performs with a little bit over eight minutes left within the third quarter epitomized Notre Dame’s struggles. On third-and-2 from the Notre Dame 47, the Irish could not get the primary down on two carries by Audric Estime, arising 6 inches quick as the road could not get a lot push.
That led to a drive by the Thundering Herd, highlighted by a backward cross by Colombi to Talik Keaton alongside the left sideline for a 30-yard acquire however the drive stalled after Cam Fancher took over at quarterback for Colombi. Marshall drove to the 4-yard line earlier than settling for a 20-yard area purpose to go forward 12-7.
“That is an analysis of every part we’re doing,” Freeman mentioned. “It begins with me, it begins with me as a head coach.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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