Jonaz Walton didn’t just break loose against Stanford. He blew the game wide open.
The freshman ripped off a 97-yard touchdown run Saturday in South Bend, the third-longest offensive play in Notre Dame Stadium history, and finished with 181 rushing yards as No. 3 Notre Dame rolled past Stanford 58-7. Walton also added a 40-yard touchdown run, giving the Irish another reminder that their backfield has real juice.
That 181-yard day was a couple of things at once: the most by a Notre Dame running back this season and a program record for rushing yards in a game by a true freshman. And it came in a game where Notre Dame’s offense kept stacking explosive plays. Five Irish touchdowns went for 30 yards or more, with Walton’s 97-yard burst headlining the barrage.
“We know he’s gifted,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said of Walton. “He has a lot of ability. But what you’re seeing now is that he’s being consistent in practice, consistent in his reads, consistent in what he is every single day that’s giving him more opportunities to go out there and play on the field.
“When you’re consistent in your everyday play and everyday expectations, now you’ll get more opportunities and then you can make one pop like that. I mean, that was a great play.”
Walton said he’s leaned on the people around him as he’s earned more time on the field, pointing to the offensive line, the coaches and, in particular, fellow running backs Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr.
“I’ve learned how to practice at this level,” Walton said of how Williams and James have helped him progress. “Those are two really impressive running backs, the way they read, the way they work, the way they train. I’m continuously looking up to those guys.”
Notre Dame (6-0) also kept doing what it has done all season: win by a lot. The Fighting Irish extended their overall winning streak to 16 games, and every one of them has come by double digits.
That pushes them closer to the record of 21 straight double-digit wins set by Army from 1944-46. Miami is next on that list with 17 in a row from 2000 to 2001.
The Irish didn’t wait long to seize control. On Stanford’s first possession, Boubacar Traore sacked Davis Warren and forced a fumble that Jaiden Ausberry recovered. Two plays later, Nolan James Jr. finished the short field with a 3-yard touchdown at the 14:07 mark of the first quarter.
Traore was all over the opening stretch, adding an interception and a tackle for loss. Notre Dame’s defense entered the day ranked No. 1 in total defense at 216.4 yards allowed per game, and it backed that up by holding Stanford to 202 total yards.
C.J. Carr delivered another efficient outing, going 14 of 20 for 181 yards and three touchdowns while also running five times for 41 yards.
Williams had seven carries for 28 yards and scored on a 70-yard pass from Carr. James added 10 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
Stanford’s only score came in the third quarter. Davis Warren hit Caden High on a 52-yard strike to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass to Benji Blackburn. Warren finished 12 of 22 for 144 yards and the one touchdown.
That touchdown kept Notre Dame from its second shutout of the season. The Irish blanked Rice 52-0 in their second game, and they haven’t had two shutouts in the same season since 2002, when they beat Maryland 22-0 and Rutgers 42-0.
The loss also extended Stanford’s road skid to 14 games, tying Ball State for the longest such streak in the nation. The Cardinal have been outscored 115-10 over their last two games.
“That was a disappointing effort,” Stanford head coach Tavita Pritchard said. “I take full responsibility for that.
We were not ready to play. We didn’t play well enough.
“Notre Dame is sound at all levels of their defense,” Pritchard said. “They’re good up front.
They’re good at the second level. I know they had some guys out at the second level and defensive backfield, but they challenge you, they mix up looks, they’re not afraid to play man.
They really make you go beat them.”
The game even included a small family footnote late, when Stanford backup quarterback Charlie Mirer got some fourth-quarter work at Notre Dame Stadium. His father, Rick Mirer, starred for the Irish, helped them reach three major bowl games and set what was then a Notre Dame record with 18 touchdown passes in 1991. Rick Mirer also played 12 years in the NFL.
Notre Dame now turns to a much bigger spotlight. The Irish travel to No.
8 BYU next Saturday in a top-10 matchup that will say more about where they stand nationally. Stanford returns home to face Elon on Saturday.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Has A Bigger Stanford Concern Than Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying a little more uncertainty on defense than it probably wanted this late in the season. Defensive back Leonard Moore is listed as questionable after suffering a concussion in the previous game, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has already been ruled out because of a left thumb injury. It is the kind of injury report that puts the spotlight on depth, especially with the Irish trying to keep their defensive rotation steady.
The good news for Notre Dame is that the staff has shown a clear willingness to be cautious rather than force players back before they are ready. That approach matters now, because Stanford is less of a concern than the bigger question of how healthy the Irish can be when they need all hands available. Moore's status will be watched closely, and Viliamu-Asa's absence only adds to the need for the next group up to handle its part without much drop-off. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Now Faces A Bigger BYU Test Than Expected
BYUs first full game without LJ Martin did not look like a team searching for answers. The Cougars handled Iowa State 24-10 and got a breakout all-around performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 109 yards on the ground. For Notre Dame, that matters because this is no longer shaping up as just another late-season test, but one with real College Football Playoff weight behind it.
The Irish were already preparing for a difficult matchup, and BYUs showing only raised the level of concern. Losing a key back usually forces an offense to adjust and simplify, but BYU looked sharper, more balanced and more explosive than expected without Martin. Now Notre Dame has to account for a quarterback who can hurt defenses in multiple ways, and a game that already carried stakes has become a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Has A Chance To Prove Something Against Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying more than just another chance to win the Legends Trophy. The Irish are also looking at a familiar opponent as a useful measuring stick for an offense that has shown signs of improvement and now has a chance to turn that progress into something more consistent. A strong opening would help set the tone, but so would a performance that lets quarterback CJ Carr keep the passing game moving and, in turn, opens cleaner paths for the running attack.
The bigger test may come in the less glamorous parts of the game. Notre Dame needs to handle the line of scrimmage, sustain drives, and be sharper in the moments that decide whether promising possessions become points. Third downs and red zone trips have a way of revealing how complete an offense really is, and with a 16th straight win over Stanford in play, the Irish have a clear chance to show they can do those things against a conference foe that has long been on the schedule but is still worth taking seriously. [Read more 🡒]