Notre Dame Runs a Clinic Against the Cyclones in Camping World
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Attendance at the 2019 Camping World Bowl totals 46,948. This is the highest attendance number since 2016.
The 2019 Camping World Bowl in Orlando, FL. saw quick action between the Norte Dame Fighting Irish and the Iowa State Cyclones. Thanks to two fumbles by the Iowa State offense, the Fighting Irish would quickly gain momentum putting 10 points on the board and holding the Cyclones to zero points in the 1st quarter.
Camping World Bowl MVP, Chase Claypool catches the first TD of the game for Notre Dame.
Led by quarterback Ian Book and wide receiver Chase Claypool, the Fighting Irish would continue their lead into halftime with 132 passing yards. RB Tony Jones Jr. would also lend 44 yards helping secure their halftime score over Iowa State 20-6.
Coming into the Camping World Bowl, both Notre Dame and Iowa State had impressive regular seasons. Iowa State put up 41 points against a CFP Oklahoma team, while Notre Dame kept their top 25 ranking, shutting teams out and holding opponents to just over 3 points per first quarter. Speaking on the ability of the defense, wide receiver Chase Claypool states, "we feed off of each other... the defense kept giving us good field position, good confidence because once we get a lead, we can start opening up our playbook a little bit." And opening up their playbook is exactly what Notre Dame did.
In the opening five-and-a-half minutes of the second half, the Fighting Irish pushed for 116 yards on just five plays. One of those being an 84-yard touchdown run by RB Tony Jones Jr., the longest rushing play in Camping World Bowl history. The 84-yard run would be a career-long rush for Jones and the longest run in Notre Dame's program history since 2018 (Dexter Williams 97-yard rush at Virginia Tech). The 84-yard run is also the longest rush by a Notre Dame player in a bowl game.
With history-making runs and record-setting defensive numbers, Notre Dame would continue to show their experience on offense and defense, leading them to a final score of 33-9 over the Iowa State Cyclones.
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly conducts a post-game interview.
When speaking on the performance of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish head coach, Brian Kelly, stated, "All three phases were outstanding today. When you hold an offense that put 40 points on a team that's playing in the playoffs in Oklahoma, to no touchdowns, you know, you can't hide from that." With a Camping World Bowl victory, Notre Dame improved to 11-2 on the season. And under Brian Kelly, Notre Dame is 33-0 when holding a halftime lead of 14 or more points.
"Anytime you win 11 games, that's an outstanding football season. Everybody measures it by, you know, there's only one team that can win a national championship. I can measure it by what our kids did at the end of the season, and that is, they got back up, they went out and competed and overcame adversity.", stated Coach Kelly in his post-game press conference.
For many of the Notre Dame seniors, playing in the Camping World Bowl is the last time they will put on a Notre Dame uniform. But for the Fighting Irish football program, the sky is the limit when it comes to the potential of its on-the-field talent and their ability to drown out the noise and overcome adversity.
Key Game Notes:
With his performance, Clayool passed the 1,000-yard receiving mark on the season. In the first half, he posted 112 receiving yards on four catches (28.0-yard average), also marking his third game of the season totaling 100 or more receiving yards.
Claypool's 146-yard, seven-catch, the one-touchdown performance earned him Camping World Bowl MVP honors.
The Irish were 4-for-4 in the red zone on the day, On the season, Notre Dame was 51-of-55 in the red zone.
On the season, Notre Dame has recorded 19 total fumble recoveries, including the two in the 2019 Camping World Bowl, which leads the FBS in 2019.
Today's matchup also marked the first time Notre Dame has faced a Big 12 opponent in a bowl game.
Gameball recipient was Alohi Gilman