No. 17 Notre Dame is approaching Saturday’s sport in opposition to visiting Miami (Ohio) with heightened consciousness as one other MAC opponent comes calling.
Will probably be the Preventing Irish’s first sport on its dwelling area in South Bend, Ind., since Northern Illinois shocked them two weeks in the past as a four-touchdown underdog. Notre Dame (2-1) bounced again with a 66-7 highway win in opposition to Purdue final week.
Preventing Irish coach Marcus Freeman was requested in regards to the similarities that existed between Northern Illinois and Miami (Ohio) as his gamers returned dwelling.
“(It is) a superb soccer workforce that would are available right here and beat us if we do not put together the correct method,” Freeman stated. “So, that is the similarities I see between these two groups — each of them are good soccer groups, and we’ve got to respect them by way of the way in which we put together.”
The RedHawks (0-2) nonetheless are in search of their first victory of the season. They have been aggressive in every of their first two video games, falling 13-6 to Northwestern on Aug. 31 and 27-16 to Cincinnati final Saturday.
Miami linebacker Matt Salopek stated it was essential to remain optimistic.
“We simply have to come back in right here, and I’ve acquired to remind guys that it is a model new week,” Salopek stated. “We nonetheless have objectives that we’re attempting to perform this season. That is to go win a MAC championship, and that is nonetheless in play.
“We have to go play Notre Dame (on Saturday). They’re an excellent opponent. However you have seen it, anyone can lose on any given day in soccer. That is simply how it’s. We have simply acquired to come back in and repair our errors on either side of the ball.”
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard pursues a second straight high quality efficiency after he led his workforce to a 42-0 halftime benefit at Purdue. Leonard accomplished 11 of 16 passes for 112 yards and rushed 11 instances for 100 yards and three touchdowns earlier than giving strategy to backup Steve Angeli within the second half.
Jeremiyah Love additionally may determine prominently into Notre Dame’s sport plan. The sophomore working again, who had 10 carries for 109 yards and a landing final week, is averaging 8.0 yards per carry with three touchdowns in three video games.
Freeman stated Love and fellow working again Jadarian Value have been key weapons.
“You continue to should be dedicated to working the ball, and that is what our id is,” Freeman stated. “… We have a pair guys that may run the ball and take all of it the way in which. We all know that, and so we have to proceed to play to our strengths.”
Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert accomplished 23 of 35 passes for 339 yards with two touchdowns and one interception final week in opposition to Cincinnati. He’s the youngest brother of Blaine Gabbert, who has made 49 begins within the NFL.
The youngest Gabbert’s high goal on the RedHawks is Cade McDonald, who caught eight passes for 135 yards and a landing final week. McDonald additionally had eight catches within the season opener in opposition to Northwestern, and he’s averaging 120 receiving yards per sport.
This would be the fourth assembly between the applications. Notre Dame is 2-1 within the sequence, together with a 52-17 victory in the latest matchup on Sept. 30, 2017.
–Discipline Stage Media
