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Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from win over No. 19 North Carolina

By Connor Muldowney

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heelsduring the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heelsduring the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) is sacked by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Drew White (40) in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) is sacked by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Drew White (40) in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Defense did a fantastic job

Everyone was expecting a shootout on Friday night, but North Carolina stepped up on defense and Notre Dame did the same. Two prolific offenses were made to look pedestrian by both defenses.

North Carolina deserves plenty of credit for what they did, holding Kyren Williams (until a big run late) and Ian Book from truly breaking out but Notre Dame arguably had a tougher task with Sam Howell, Michael Brown, Javonte Williams, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome on the other side.

Clark Lea drew up the perfect game plan to keep the Tar Heels in check and make sure that explosive offense didn’t get going on Friday night.

Howell didn’t have his best game, completing 16-of-25 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.

Carter and Williams combined for 85 yards on 19 carries and Brown and Newsome had 10 receptions for 148 yards.

Notre Dame’s defense needed to keep the Irish in the game and do just enough so the offense wasn’t playing catch-up all game and it more than that.

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