The No. 12 Fighting Irish have scored four touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter, but only have 25 points to show for it. That’s because Notre Dame kickers have missed two point-after attempts and failed a 2-point conversion. For good measure, the Fighting Irish have also missed a 35-yard field goal.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman might have to call Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham and ask him about the open competition for students for the kicking job the Sun Devils held last year after a 24-14 loss to Cincinnati.
Here’s a look at the struggles for Notre Dame in the kicking game on Saturday, Nov. 1:
Notre Dame kickers vs. Boston College
The kicking woes began with Noah Burnette doinking an extra point attempt off the upright in the second quarter following a touchdown pass from freshman CJ Carr to Malachi Fields.
As a result of the first missed PAT, Freeman opted to go for a 2-point conversion after a 44-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Will Pauling near the end of the first half. The 2-point try failed, leaving the score 12-0 Notre Dame. At the end of the first half, freshman Erik Schmidt missed a 35-yard field goal as time expired to keep the Fighting Irish ahead 12-7 at the half.
Following a Jeremiyah Love 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, a third kicker ― Marcello Diomede ― missed the extra point attempt to keep Notre Dame stuck at 18 points with three touchdowns.
Luckily for the Fighting Irish fans and Freeman, following a Love 94-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Schmidt connected on his extra point attempt to give Notre Dame a positive on special teams.