Stanford Falls to No. 3 Notre Dame in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Freshman Jonaz Walton scored on a 97-yard run — the third longest offensive play in Notre Dame Stadium history — and finished with 181 yards as the No. 3 Fighting Irish defeated Stanford 58-7 on Saturday. 

Walton’s 181 yards are the most by a Notre Dame running back this season. Walton also scored on a 40-yard run. 

Notre Dame (6-0), which extended its overall winning streak to 16 games, also was led by C.J. Carr, who finished with 14-of-20 passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed five times for 41 yards.

Stanford (2-4) produced its only touchdown with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter, when Davis Warren's 52-yard strike to Caden High set up a three-yard TD toss from Warren to Benji Blackburn.

High's 64 yards on three catches led the Cardinal receivers while Micah Ford rushed for 48 yards on 13 carries.

Saturday's contest marked the first time this season in which Stanford lost the turnover battle, snapping a streak of five straight games to open the season.

Aneyas Williams rushed seven times for 28 yards, but scored on a 70-yard pass from Carr. Nolan James Jr. carried the ball 10 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Notre Dame’s defense set a tone in the first 12 seconds. Boubacar Traore sacked Warren and forced a fumble recovered by Jaiden Ausberry. Two plays later, James scored from the 3 at the 14:07 mark of the first quarter.

Sam Mattingly led the Cardinal defense with a career-high 11 tackles (8 solo) while also registering a pass breakup and quarterback hurry.

Stanford returns home next week for the first of back-to-back home games, hosting Elon for Renuion Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Cardinal then welcomes NC State on Friday, Oct. 23.