Field Level Media
Nov 2, 2019
Senior quarterback Ian Book rushed 7 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 29 seconds left as No. 16 Notre Dame escaped with a 21-20 win over visiting Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
Book's touchdown capped a wild comeback for Notre Dame (6-2), which trailed by six points when it took over at its 13-yard line with 3:22 remaining. The Fighting Irish converted a pair of fourth-down plays during the 18-play, 87-yard scoring drive, which extended their home winning streak to 16 games.
Notre Dame had no timeouts remaining as he surveyed his passing options before tucking the ball and scrambling right for the end zone.
He completed 29 of 53 passes for 341 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for a team-high 50 yards.
Hokies safety Divine Deablo had a 98-yard score on the longest all-time fumble recovery for a touchdown against Notre Dame. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Virginia Tech (5-3).
Hokies quarterback Quincy Patterson II was 9 of 28 for 139 yards, a touchdown and interception.
Notre Dame opened the scoring with 9:10 to go in the first quarter. Book hit Cole Kmet for an 8-yard touchdown pass.
Virginia Tech evened the score at 7 with 1:15 left in the first quarter. Damon Hazelton caught an 8-yard pass along the right side of the end zone and stayed inbounds for his sixth receiving touchdown of the season and his fifth in the past three games.
The Fighting Irish answered on the next possession to go back on top 14-7. Tommy Tremble caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Book to cap an 11-play, 77-yard drive that lasted 4:25.
Virginia Tech stunned Notre Dame to even the score 14-14 with nine seconds left in the half. The Fighting Irish marched deep into the red zone and looked to pull ahead by a couple of touchdowns, but linebacker Rayshard Ashby forced a fumble by running back Jafar Armstrong. Deablo grabbed the loose ball and sprinted untouched for the momentum-changing score.
The Hokies pulled ahead 17-14 when Brian Johnson drilled a 44-yard field goal with 11 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Another field goal by Johnson, this time from 25 yards, made it 20-14 Virginia Tech with 13:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.
--Field Level Media