Notre Dame Dominates Oregon State To Earn Sun Bowl Victory

Notre Dame dominated Oregon State from start to finish to earn a victory in the 90th Sun Bowl

Notre Dame capped off the 2023 season in impression fashion as the Irish dominated Oregon State by a 40-8 score in the 90th Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. It marked Notre Dame's first bowl victory over the Beavers and improves the Irish to 10-3 on the season.

The first sequence of the game was the symbolic of how the game would play out. Notre Dame forced an early punt that pinned the Irish deep in their own territory, and the offense followed with a long, methodical scoring drive.

After starting at their own 4-yard line, the Irish offense ran it three times to move the chains and get out of their own goal line area. On the next first down play, freshman Jordan Faison got behind the defense and Steve Angeli's first pass as a starter hit him in stride for a 55-yard gain.

The Irish went right back to the ground for four straight carries that set up a first-and-goal situation. Oregon State drilled the fifth straight run for a loss and an incomplete fade throw set up a 3rd-and-goal to go. Angeli quickly found Jayden Thomas on a quick Snag route, and the veteran receiver worked his way into the end zone to put the Irish up 7-0.

After the defense forced another quick punt, the Irish offense once again went on the march, getting deep into Oregon State territory, but Angeli missed an open Eli Raridon and took a third-down sack, forcing a 50-yard field goal attempt that Spencer Schrader missed. 

Notre Dame's defense continued it's dominant performance, forcing two more punts attempts, but on the second attempt the Beavers faked a punt, but sophomore Josh Burnham read it perfectly and blew it up for a 5-yard loss. 

The Irish offense had failed to capitalize up to that point, but they would take advantage of this opportunity. Jadarian Price got busy on the ground, and Angeli found both Thomas and Faison on short throws to move the chains before Price capped it off with a walk-in touchdown from 1-yard out with less than a minute to go in the half, putting the Irish up 14-0.

Notre Dame out-gained the Beavers 200-103 in the first half, but 37 of those yards came on the final drive with the Irish defense playing prevent before Benjamin Morrison ended the half with an interception.

This dominance up front continued in the second half, as the Irish offense once again took the opening drive into Oregon State territory. Oregon State again stiffened up and this time the Irish couldn't convert on third down and were forced to settle for a field goal, which Shrader drilled from 44 yards out.

Another Oregon State drive ended with yet another punt as Morrison and Jordan Botelho blew up the Beaver first down run to put them immediately behind the chains. All-American defensive tackle Howard Cross III ended the drive with a sack right up the middle.

Angeli and Price got the offense going again, with Angeli hitting a wide open Jaden Greathouse for a first down, and Price ripped off two good runs to get the Irish in Beaver territory. Angeli missed Faison for what should have been a touchdown on a post route, but after a delay of game penalty he used his legs to convert a 2nd-and-15 to get into the red zone. Three plays later he found a wide open Faison over the middle, and the freshman wideout did the rest, getting into the end zone as the Irish broke the game open by going up 24-0.

The Irish defense continued to completely overwhelm the Oregon State offense. After the Beavers stopped Notre Dame on a 4th-and-goal, veteran linebacker JD Bertrand and Burnham drilled running back Isaiah Newell in the end zone for a safety and a 26-0 fourth quarter Irish lead.

Price went for 54 yards on the ensuing play to get the Irish in the red zone, and freshman back Jeremiyah Love found the end zone after making multiple defenders miss after hauling in a quick slide throw as the Irish pulled ahead 33-0.

Notre Dame out-gained Oregon State 468-197. The Irish run defense was dominant, holding Oregon State to just 2 rushing yards on 16 carries. Oregon State came into the game averaging 180.8 yards per game on the ground.

The Irish racked up 236 yards on the ground and 232 through the air, marking just the third time this season the offense went over 200 yards rushing and passing.

Faison finished the game with 5 catches and a career-high 115 yards to go with his second half touchdown. Price rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. It marked the first time both players topped 100 yards in their careers. Thomas hauled in 4 passes for 59 yards and Love had 52 total yards as well. Five different Notre Dame players scored in the win.

Angeli finished his first career start with 15 completions on 19 attempts (78.9%) while passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 27 yards on the ground.

Botelho and Xavier Watts led the Irish defense with 5 tackles each, while Botelho led the defense with 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had a sack in the win. 

The 40-8 victory marked the first time in Notre Dame history that it scored at least 40 points in back-to-back bowl games. Notre Dame beat South Carolina 45-38 in the Gator Bowl to end last season.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2024 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter