South Bend, IN – The No. 9 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish continued their hot start to the 2023 season, steamrolling the Central Michigan Chippewas 41-17 on Saturday afternoon in South Bend.
Led by senior quarterback Sam Hartman and sophomore running back Audric Estime, the Irish offense was firing on all cylinders against the overwhelmed Chippewas defense. Hartman aired it out for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Estime gashed Central Michigan for a career-high 176 yards rushing.
“Our offense is really starting to gel,” said Irish head coach Marcus Freeman after the game. “Sam is doing a great job getting the ball to our speedy receivers and Audric runs with a purpose every time he touches the ball. This is shaping up to be a very dynamic unit.”
Hartman wasted no time making his presence felt, connecting with freshman receiver Tobias Merriweather for a 75-yard touchdown bomb on Notre Dame’s first offensive play. The long ball set the tone for the day, as the Irish receivers routinely got behind the Central Michigan secondary.
Chris Tyree hauled in a 76-yard touchdown of his own in the second quarter, the longest catch of the speedster’s career. Tyree praised his quarterback after the game, saying “Sam puts it right on the money every time, he’s allowing me and the other receivers to really maximize our talent.”
While the Central Michigan offense mustered a few solid drives behind quarterback Daniel Richardson, they were no match for the Notre Dame defense once the Irish established a multiple-score lead. Senior linebacker Jack Kiser led the charge with 10 tackles, as the Chippewas struggled to find any rushing lanes and were forced into difficult third down situations.
By the start of the fourth quarter, the Notre Dame faithful were already celebrating an easy victory over their MAC opponent. The Irish improved to 4-0, matching their hottest start in over a decade. But tougher challenges lie ahead, as No. 5 Clemson comes to town next weekend for a top-10 showdown.
When asked about the looming matchup with the Tigers, Freeman remained focused on the task at hand. “We’re not looking ahead to anyone right now. We are thrilled with being 4-0 and will celebrate this win tonight. Tomorrow we’re on to our next opponent.”
