ATLANTA — In a tearful post-game locker room, Notre Dame football Cornerback Christian Gray sat silently with his head bowed late Monday night, his teammates still consoling him in hushed tones.
A 56-yard completion by freshman Jeremiah Smith helped Ohio State hold off a furious Notre Dame came back to win the CFP National Championship with a 34-23 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The completion came on third-and-11 from the Ohio State 34-yard line with 2:45 left, and it happened with Gray in single coverage against Smith. Notre Dame was then led 31-23.
“It’s always sad when it happens because everyone looks at that player,” Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “Certainly I should be looked at for putting him in that position. But Christian will fight back. You don’t have to worry about him, man.
“He’s a competitor, he’s resilient and that’s a blessing.”
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After allowing Ohio State to score on its first five possessions, Notre Dame almost came back from a 24-point deficit. Linebacker Drayk Bowen forced a fumble on the sixth defensive series, and the Buckeyes’ next series lasted just five plays before a punt.
Five plays into the clinching series, Kansas State graduate transfer Will Howard threw a perfect rainbow down the right sideline with Gray trailing the play.
“I could have made 15 more calls,” Golden said. “We were nearing the end. We couldn’t allow another first down. We went for pressure and obviously (Smith) made a great play.”
A sophomore in his first year as a starter, Gray bounced back from a rough outing at USC in the regular-season finale to make a game-saving interception and 99-yard return for a touchdown.
Monday’s crucial game came against Gray.
“Christian is a fighter,” Golden said. “It’s difficult to play there. The game dictated that it was sort of “do or die.” I wish I hadn’t put him in that position, but it kind of felt like that. We had to stop there. That was the guy. It manifests through him, if you will.
It was the third straight year of heartbreak for Golden and Notre Dame against their talented neighbors Columbus.
A double-safety blitz backfired in 2022 with freshman cornerback Jaden Mickey in coverage against Xavier Johnson on third-and-11. This 24-yard touchdown pass from CJ Stroud erased a 10-7 Irish lead in the final seconds of the third quarter of an eventual 21-10 loss.
In 2023, Notre Dame was unable to hold a 14-10 lead when Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord found Emeka Egbuka for 21 yards on a third-and-19 play to keep the score alive. winning training.
Monday night, it was Howard’s turn to find Smith at the expense of Gray on third and 11.
“The kids had a great throw and catch,” Golden said. “Obviously, looking back, you would always want to stop the play that everyone saw, but the kids have to execute it and they did.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article was originally published on the Indianapolis Star: Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden on the game-clinching catch