Audric Estime Breaks Through Big Against NC State

Notre Dame running back Audric Estime's big run opened the door for more offense in Saturday's win over NC State

Battering rams don’t always break through the door on the first strike. The benefit of a battering ram is it packs powerful force and if you keep pounding with it, eventually the door will break.

Notre Dame’s own battering ram, Audric Estime, had three carries through Notre Dame’s first three possessions in Saturday’s 45-24 win over NC State that netted a total of one positive yard. That was before the nearly two-hour weather suspension of play at Raleigh’s Carter-Finley Stadium.

When played resumed, Estime took his fourth handoff of the game and ran to his right. This time the battering ram ran through what had seemed like an impenetrable door for an 80-yard touchdown run. It put the Irish up 10-0 early in the second quarter and opened the flood gates for more offense to come on the soggy afternoon.

"That was just the result of everyone staying ready,” Estime said after the win. "Our offensive line doing their job (and offensive coordinator Gerad Parker) calling the right play. That’s just, we’ve got to stay ready. We didn’t know when we were going to play or if we were even going to be able to play but that was just the result of everyone doing their one of 11.

"They’re a really good defense,” Estime continued. "They fly around and they have great energy. That’s something that we knew going into the game. We knew it was going to be a dog fight. We knew that every play wasn’t going to be a given play, it wasn’t going to be an easy play. We were going to have to scrap and fight for it and that’s kind of what we did. It was a great battle and we just had to keep on going, even if the play wasn’t going to hit because we just had to stick to it and eventually it was going to hit and that’s what happened in the second half.”

The Fighting Irish showed a different look with their line than they had previously shown NC State. Regular left tackle Joe Alt lined up as a tight end next to right tackle Blake Fisher, while tight end Mitchell Evans occupied Alt’s left tackle spot. Left guard Pat Coogan pulled behind Alt and Fisher and Estime hit the hole nearly untouched.

"That’s just a scary look,” Estime remarked. "I honestly believe we’ve got the best offensive line in the country and that’s let by the two best tackle duo. Just to have them on the same side, it just gives me a little rush and that’s just something I hope we keep on doing.”

Estime sets goals for himself every week. He had a 50-yard run the previous week against Tennessee State and his goal against NC State was to break a run of at least 60 yards, just an incremental increase from his previous best.

"I have goals every week,” Estime explained. "I speak it into existence but that doesn’t happen without the work. So, every Monday through Friday we’re working as a team. Offense is preparing the defense, and the defense is preparing the offense. You’ve just got to keep on working and I’m going to keep on setting those goals and I’m going to keep on thriving to reach it but if I fall short it’s alright.”

By the game’s end, Estime cranked out a game-high 135 yards on 14 carries for 9.6 yards per carry. He now leads an Irish rushing attack that’s averaging 194 yards per game with 345 yards, 8.0 yards per carry and four touchdown runs. 

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