Big Punt Return Sets Up BYU’s First TD Against Notre Dame
Oct 8, 2022, 6:11 PM | Updated: 8:01 pm
BYU's Hobbs Nyberg (Courtesy of BYU Photo)
(Courtesy of BYU Photo)
LAS VEGAS – A big play by BYU’s special teams set the Cougars up near the red zone before they scored their first points against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Fighting Irish hosted the No. 16 Cougars at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, on Saturday, October 8.
With 8:21 left in the opening quarter, BYU forced Notre Dame to punt from its own nine-yard line.
Hobbs Nyberg received the punt and returned it 42 yards and deep into Irish territory.
Jaren Hall & Co. began BYU’s possession at the Notre Dame 26-yard line. After six consecutive runs, the Cougars faced a 4th & Goal from the two-yard line. Hall connected with Kody Epps for six points and BYU’s first points of the game. The Cougars missed the PAT and took a 6-3 lead.
— CFB over all (@PickettsPool) October 9, 2022
After the score, Hall was 1/3 passing for two yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Hall entered the game having thrown for 1,438 yards, 12 touchdowns, and one interception this season. Epps arrived in Las Vegas with 21 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Excellent route running from #BYU WR Kody Epps. Wow!
TD BYU.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 9, 2022
BYU’s game against Notre Dame is broadcast on KSL 5 TV and KSL NewsRadio.
No. 16 BYU vs. Notre Dame
The two faith-based programs will be squaring off for the ninth all-time meeting. They haven’t faced one another since a Notre Dame win in 2013 in South Bend on Senior Night.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 6-2. BYU’s victories against the Irish took place in 1994 and 2004.
Initially, the Irish were supposed to play in Provo. But they had no interest in fulfilling that arrangement once they lined up a scheduling agreement with the ACC in 2014. So instead of BYU taking a paycheck from the Irish, they are playing a game in Vegas.
It’s not a neutral site contest. Saturday night in Las Vegas is a Notre Dame home game minus the venue. Notre Dame’s traditions have flown in from South Bend to Sin City. Plus, the Irish have had the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign turned green in Notre Dame’s honor.
Saturday’s game is the first time Notre Dame has ever played a game in the state of Nevada. For BYU, Las Vegas is like a second home. The tilt against the Irish will be BYU’s 14th game all-time in Vegas.
