Notre Dame’s defense rose to the occasion last Friday and the offense provided the final touch in gaining a 31-17 win over North Carolina to register win number nine on the season.

The defense dug in and in the second half held the potent NC offense and quarterback Sam Howell in check, sacking him six times and holding the Tar Heels to just 78 yards of offense in the half. The Tar Heels also failed to convert their final seven third-down attempts.

QB Ian Book and company responded to the great defensive effort by putting together a drive of four minutes and 32 seconds that chewed up 89 yards and ended with the Irish scoring the clinching touchdown with just 1:20 left. Book got it going with a 43-yard pass to Javon McKinley, then ran for 33 yards on a designed play.

The huge second half by the Irish was needed after the Tar Heels jumped out early, taking leads of 7-0 and 14-7 in the opening quarter.

Kyren Williams had another outstanding game for Notre Dame, rushing for 124 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns and Ben Skowronek added an end around for 13 yards and a TD. Backup running back C’Bo Flemister, who injured his ankle near the end of the Boston College game, did not play.

Book finished with 23 completions on 33 attempts for 279 yards and a score. McKinley had six catches for 135 yards, Michael Mayer had 54 yards on four catches, and Williams had 20 yards on four receptions.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had nine tackles to lead the defense followed by Kyle Hamilton who got six before being ejected on a targeting call late in the second quarter.

Today the Irish host Syracuse in the regular season finale. On Tuesday, the ACC announced it had rescheduled games for Dec. 12 due to postponements/cancellations and other considerations. ND’s game at Wake Forest for that date, which was a make up from the postponed game in September, will not be played. That will give the Irish a week off prior to the ACC championship game on Dec. 19. The opponent will probably be Clemson, who plays Virginia Tech today. A win puts them in the title game against the Irish. A Clemson loss and a Miami win today would put the Hurricanes in the title match.

Back to today’s game. Usually there is a lot of excitement in the final home game directed at all the seniors on the squad who will be playing in their final game in ND stadium. But like so many other traditions and happenings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration for the seniors will occur after the game rather than before as is the usual manner. After the game parents and family members will get to honor the seniors on the field.

Syracuse enters at 1-9 with the lone win over Georgia Tech, 37-20. The losses have been to UNC, 31-6; Pitt, 21-10; Duke, 38-24; Liberty, 38-21; Clemson, 47-21; Wake Forest, 38-14; Boston College, 16-13; Louisville, 30-0; and NC State, 36-25.

Syracuse has fallen fast. After a 10-3 record in 2018, it looked like the Orange had turned the corner. But since then Syracuse has lost 16 of their last 21 games. Syracuse ranks No. 126 out of 127 FBS teams in total offense, averaging just 250.4 yards per game. The Orange are ranked No. 102 in total defense at 453.5 yards per game.

ND leads the series with Syracuse, 6-3, with the last ND win coming in blowout fashion during Syracuse’s strong 2018 season. ND has won the last three games played between the two schools.

The game will be televised nationally by NBC with a 2:40 p.m. kickoff.

IRISH NOTES ... As I mentioned this year’s Senior Day will be like no others. First, students have gone home for the semester so the only fans will be staff members, parents and family of the players. Prior to this game, students were being allowed in and ND was capping its attendance at about 10,000 people per game, based on the restrictions imposed by the state of Indiana. As I stated family members will get a chance to honor and greet the players on the field after the game. The seniors also want to continue the home field win streak. ND hasn’t lost at home since Sept. 9, 2017, to Georgia, 20-19 ... .A win today will give Book the ND record for wins as a starting quarterback. He has 29 wins and is currently tied with Brady Quinn, 2003-06, Ron Powlus, 1994-97, and Tom Clements, 1972-74. A win today will also mean Book’s career would end without a loss as a starter in ND stadium. He is 14-0 currently at home. Tony Rice leads at 16-0 at home followed by Joe Theismann, 11-0-1, and Johnny Lujack, 9-0. ... Wide receiver Braden Lenzy continues to fight his way back from a recurring hamstring injury. He played last week in limited action and should see more playing time today. Backup defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola won’t play today due to a knee injury but should be ready for the ACC title game. Also, backup nose guard Jacob Lacey, who did not play last week for the first time this season, is still struggling with an undisclosed injury. His availability today is questionable .... Assumption University in Boston announced that its multi-sport stadium will be named Brian Kelly ‘83 stadium. Kelly played linebacker at Assumption, graduate from there in 1983, and coached football and softball there .... Williams was named the ACC running back of the week for his performance in the NC game. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg was also named ACC co-offensive lineman of the week for his blocking. He shared the honor with Georgia Tech’s left tackle Zach Quinney ... ND’s offensive line, rated the best in the country by one service, continues to have injury problems. The latest is sophomore center Zeke Correll, who filled in for junior Jarrett Patterson last week in the North Carolina game. He has been hobbled all week with a gimpy ankle. His availability to play today will be a game time decision, according to Kelly. If Correll can’t go, then Josh Lugg, 6-7, 310-pound senior, would fill in. Lugg filled in at right guard last week for grad senior Tommy Kraemer, who was out following an emergency appendectomy a week earlier. If Lugg moves to center then senior Dillon Gibbons, who normally is the backup left guard, would start at right guard. Kraemer returned to practice this week and could play today, however, Kelly said the coaching staff decided to play is safe and would only use Kraemer if absolutely necessary. He will be ready for the ACC championship game ... ND lost a devoted fan from our area this week. Jack Woodring of Tamaqua passed away Wednesday. He was a faithful Irish fan and attended at least one game a year in South Bend. My condolences to his family ... ND is favored by 33 today and Syracuse isn’t given much of a chance to upset the Irish. You never want to take anyone lightly in any sport. I’m sure Kelly and staff are preaching that to the team all week that they have to use this game as a “tune up” for the probable rematched against Clemson on Dec. 19 ... In my preseason picks I have the Irish winning today. No reason to change that. I don’t think they will cover the 33 point spread. I will be back in two weeks with the ACC championship preview.