LAS VEGAS — Drew PyneHe stood by the play and savored the view. Seconds before Notre Dame’s quarterback had had no view at all as the BYUHe was thrown to the turf by a pass rush. Pyne turned the ball around just as he was about to go down. Audric Estime, a sleight-of-hand shovel pass that turned Notre Dame’s lead back loose. Estime jumped over a defender to gain a 13-yard gain. Pyne saw it all happen after he picked himself up, then gave a fist pump and a scream that probably stood out even within Allegiant Stadium’s charged atmosphere.
“I was kind of surprised myself,” Pyne laughed. “It works, I guess.”
Three plays later, Pyne made a connection with Michael MayerThis was a game-winning touchdown. It was a traditional forward pass to the school’s most prolific tight end. And although the game’s closing quarter was hardly that smooth, Notre Dame held on and put down No. 16 BYU for a 28-20 Shamrock Series win, injecting some expectations back into Marcus Freeman’s debut season after its tumultuous start.
Notre Dame knows who it is leaving Las Vegas. It also has a new attitude. After the game, the students were charged by the players.
