SOUTH BEND, Ind.: Kyren Williams ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in his first start, grad quarterback Ian Book threw for 263 yards and No. 10 Notre Dame beat Duke 27-13 on Saturday at rainy Notre Dame Stadium in the season and Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
The speedy Williams, who saw limited action last season as a freshman, had 19 carries and also was Notre Dames leading receiver with two receptions for 93 yards, one a 75-yarder in the first half.
The victory was Notre Dames 19th straight at home and the first for the Fighting Irish in a conference after 132 years as an independent. Because of COVID-19, the Irish are playing this season as a member of the ACC. The school announced a crowd of 10,097, 90% of them students, attended the game in the 77,622-seat stadium where fans were wearing masks and socially distanced because of the pandemic.
The triumph also came on a day when the school announced a four-year contract extension for coach Brian Kelly, who is now 9-2 in openers at Notre Dame.
Book outdueled Duke grad quarterback Chase Brice, who threw for 259 yards on 20-of-37 passing and rushed for a touchdown in his debut for coach David Cutcliffe after transferring in from Clemson.
Book completed 19 of 31 passes, one a 17-yard TD pass to Avery Davis early in the fourth quarter that increased the Irish lead to 24-13. He rushed for just 12 yards on nine carries.
Totre Dame finished with a 439-334 edge in total offense, including a 176-75 advantage on the ground.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 31, NO. 23 IOWA STATE 14
AMES, Iowa: Louisiana-Lafayette got kick and punt returns for touchdowns to help secure one of its biggest wins in program history.
In the opener for both teams, the Ragin Cajuns were ignited by Chris Smiths 95-yard kickoff return in the second quarter and Eric Garrors 83-yard punt return in the third.
Levi Lewis also threw a 78-yard scoring pass to Peter LeBlanc to give Louisiana-Lafayette a 17-14 lead late in the third quarter.
Louisiana-Lafayette beat a Top 25 opponent for the first time, having gone 0-26 against ranked foes away from home. The Ragin Cajuns only other win over a Top 25 team was in 1996 at home against Texas A&M.
The Ragin Cajuns limited Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy to 16-of-35 passing for 145 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception.
NO. 18 NORTH CAROLINA 31, SYRACUSE 6
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.: Javonte Williams ran for three fourth-quarter touchdowns and North Carolina overcame a mistake-filled performance to beat Syracuse in the season and Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Michael Carter added 138 yards of total offense for the Tar Heels in an empty home stadium after the school opted to open with no fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Syracuses offense did little well, generating little from its running game unless it came on quarterback
Syracuse’s Tommy DeVito completed just 13 of 31 passes for 112 yards while taking seven sacks, and the Orange finished with 202 total yards.
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