Cougar comeback comes up short in 28-20 loss to Notre Dame

LAS VEGAS – Despite a threatening second-half comeback, No. 16 BYU came up on the wrong side of a 28-20 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in the Shamrock Series. 

First-half offensive struggles and missed opportunities in the second half doomed BYU (4-2) to run out of chances against the Fighting Irish (3-2). 

Wide receiver Kody Epps posted four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Chris Brooks added 90 yards on the ground and another score. 

Notre Dame outgained the Cougars 496 to 280 in the game, where the BYU offense didn't start clicking until it was too late. 

BOX SCORE
POSTGAME NOTES
PHOTO GALLERY

First half
After quarterback Jaren Hall threw an interception on a long pass on the first play of the game, BYU’s defense held up on a short field, forcing a 26-yard field goal with 11:25 to go in the first quarter.

The defense held Notre Dame to a three-and-out, backed up near the Irish end zone. After a 42-yard punt return by Hobbs Nyberg, BYU set up shop at the Notre Dame 26-yard line. The ground game churned out 24 of the 26 yards and a fourth-down pass to Kody Epps for a two-yard touchdown got BYU on the board for a 6-3 lead with 4:32 left in the first quarter, after the PAT was missed.

Notre Dame answered right back with a drive down the field and a 24-yard strike to tight end Michael Mayer with 14:19 to go in the first half, taking a 10-6 lead.

After BYU’s defense got a fourth-down stop on the Cougar 4-yard line, Hall was sacked in the end zone for a safety on the ensuing possession to make it 12-6 with 6:51 to go until the break.

Notre Dame added a score before halftime with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Pyne to Jayden Thomas with just over one minute left. After an unsuccessful two-point try, Notre Dame took an 18-6 lead into the locker room.

Second half
The Irish got another touchdown from their tight end on their first drive of the second half, a 19-yard strike to push their lead to 25-6 with just over 8 minutes in the third quarter.

BYU finally broke through for a big play with Epps wide open in the middle of the field and Hall connecting with him for a 53-yard, catch-and-run touchdown, Epps’ second of the game to cut the lead down to 25-13 with 5:27 left in the third.

With momentum on their side, the Cougars held the Irish again, and BYU drove the field again, this time with Brooks getting loose for 15 yards, followed by a 28-yard run for a touchdown, making it a one-score game at 25-20 with 14:18 to go in the game.

With Notre Dame driving into BYU territory, Payton Wilgar got his hands on a pass at the line of scrimmage, and it was enough for Max Tooley to snatch it for his third interception of the year and get BYU the ball back at the Cougar 17-yard line with 11:42 remaining.

After BYU suffered a drop on third down, the Irish broke off a 46-yard run to the BYU 7-yard line to set up first and goal. The Cougar defense held Notre Dame to a 20-yard field goal with 6:07 to play for a 28-20 edge.

With pressure in his face, Hall delivered a strike to an open Epps again for a 27-yard gain to put BYU into Notre Dame’s side of the field. A failed fourth-down attempt though sent the ball back to Notre Dame at the Irish 27-yard line with 3:37 left in the game.

Notre Dame was able to get enough first downs to run out the clock and hang on to a 28-20 win. 

Next up, the Cougars host Arkansas at LaVell Edwards Stadium in BYU's Homecoming game next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT on ESPN. Listen to live play-by-play of BYU and Notre Dame on BYU Radio SiriusXM 143 BYURadio.org/BYU Radio App/KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM.