Highlights, key plays and photos from No. 16 BYU’s 28-20 loss to Notre Dame

The Deseret News is providing live coverage from Saturday’s game between BYU and Notre Dame. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Score: Notre Dame 28, BYU 20

Fourth quarter

0:00

Notre Dame used its power running attack to finish this game off, and ran the clock out for the win.

3:42

Notre Dame came up with the huge stop: BYU faced a fourth-and-1 at the Notre Dame 27, and the Fighting Irish stuffed Lopini Katoa for no gain on a run play that wasn’t close to getting a first down.

The Cougars had to use a timeout to set up the fourth-down play, a timeout they could sorely miss if they can get the ball back.

6:07

Notre Dame added to its lead with a 20-yard field goal from Blake Grupe, but it was an impressive defensive stand inside the 5 from BYU to keep it a one-score game. Notre Dame 28, BYU 20.

Audric Estime broke off a 46-yard run to spark the drive, one play after Drew Pyne used his legs to pick up a critical third down.

11:42

Leave it up to Max Tooley to make the big defensive play for BYU.

The Cougars’ star linebacker picked off a Drew Pyne pass that had been tipped, ending a promising Notre Dame drive that had reached the BYU 26.

14:18

We have a ball game again.

One play after picking up 15 yards, Chris Brooks burst for a 28-yard touchdown run and the Cougars have scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives. Notre Dame 25, BYU 20.

Brooks is now up to 81 rushing yards for the game.

The drive looks doomed at the start after Jaren Hall was sacked on the first play of the drive, but Lopini Katoa picked up 20 yards on a third-and-18 run to extend what ended up being a 10-play, 87-yard drive.

Third quarter

5:27

There’s a sign of life for the BYU offense — Jaren Hall found a wide-open Kody Epps for a 53-yard touchdown pass to bring it back to a two-score game. Notre Dame 25, BYU 13.

Epps made some nice moves after the grab to score on his longest catch of his career.

8:05

If it wasn’t a rout before, it is now.

Drew Pyne connected with Michael Mayer for a 19-yard touchdown pass — Mayer’s second of the game — as Notre Dame used another long drive to score. Notre Dame 25, BYU 6.

This one covered 75 yards in 11 plays.

While BYU’s defense has tried to hang on, the Cougars just can’t get Notre Dame off the field. An example of that came on a third-and-13 for Notre Dame, when Pyne tossed a 15-yard pass to Mayer after surveying the field.

A few plays later, Pyne and Mayer connected again for the score.

Second quarter

1:03

What a catch by Jayden Thomas.

Even with Jakob Robinson in tight coverage, Thomas made a 30-yard touchdown grab on a third-and-3 play on a pretty ball from Drew Pyne. Notre Dame 18, BYU 6.

Notre Dame went for 2 to try and make it a two-touchdown game, but the pass was too high and incomplete.

6:50

One play and a safety.

With BYU stuck deep in its own end zone, Jaren Hall held on to the ball too long and was sacked for a safety by Jack Kiser. Notre Dame 12, BYU 6.

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6:57

BYU needed that stop.

The Fighting Irish were threatening to go up two scores after driving 68 yards, but Payton Wilgar and Keenan Pili dropped Audric Estime for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the BYU 4.

14:19

That was an impressive response from Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish score their first touchdown on a 24-yard touchdown catch by standout tight end Michael Mayer. Notre Dame 10, BYU 6.

Notre Dame moved the ball 75 yards in 10 plays for the score to retake the lead.

Mayer already has six receptions for 73 yards in this game.

First quarter

4:32

Thanks to a Hobbs, skip and a jump, BYU is leading.

After a Hobbs Nyberg 42-yard punt return, BYU took the lead on a 2-yard fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from Jaren Hall to Kody Epps. BYU 6, Notre Dame 3.

The 26-yard drive was sparked by a 9-yard carry by Jaren Hall and 10-yarder from Chris Brooks.

The Cougars’ kicking struggles continue, though, with a missed extra point.

11:25

That was a suboptimal start for BYU.

Jaren Hall threw an interception on the game’s first play — just his second pick of the year, and the Fighting Irish’s first interception of the season — and Notre Dame cashed in with a field goal.

Blake Grupe hit a 26-yard field goal for the game’s first points after Notre Dame drove 36 yards in eight plays. Notre Dame 3, BYU 0.

Pregame

A few BYU personnel notes, courtesy the Deseret News’ Jay Drew:

Here are a few stories to get you ready for the game: