Irish top S.C. in historical Gator Bowl barnburner

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– Tyler Buchner represented 5 goals to help balance out two interceptions returned for TDs, and No. 21 Notre Dame beat No. 19 South Carolina 45-38 in a wild TaxSlayer Bowl on Friday.The highest-scoring game in Gator Bowl history was filled with huge plays and remarkable minutes. But Buchner delivered the knockout blow when he found tight end Mitchell Evans wide open for a 16-yard goal on a third-and-7 play with 1:38 staying.

“The game we played was terrific. We won the game, and I couldn’t be better,”Buchner stated. “However for me, personally, I didn’t play to the standard I wished to play. I believe I accounted for two additional goals they didn’t want me to account for. That’s not the requirement I hold myself to.”Buchner, who gained back the starting task after Drew Pyne went into the transfer website following the regular-season finale, threw for 274 backyards and three goals. He also ran for 61 backyards and 2 scores.But his three interceptions nearly showed excessive to overcome.O’ Donnell Fortune returned one of them 100 lawns for a goal in the fourth quarter and DQ Smith returned another 47 yards for a score in the first. However Buchner got better from both miscues to earn his first triumph in three profession starts.” He’s unique,”Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said.Notre Dame(9-4 )got rid of a 14-point deficit and won regardless of South Carolina’s scoring on the 2 pick-sixes and on unique groups. Punter Kai Kroger connected with long-snapper Hunter Rogers for one of the oddest TDs in bowl lore.Spencer Rattler completed 29 of 44 passes for 246 yards for the Gamecocks(8-5), with an interception and two goals to Xavier Legette.South Carolina was missing out on a number of crucial starters, consisting of running back MarShawn Lloyd, flexible tight end Jaheim Bell, tight end Austin Stogner, protective lineman Zacch Pickens, safety Devonni Reed, cornerbacks Webcam Smith and Darius Rush and receivers Josh Vann and Jalen Brooks.”For us to be down that many players and for those guys to play their butts off like they did and leave whatever out there like they did, I’m really truly, really happy to be their coach,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said. “Because locker room there’s a hurtin’group of guys that left it all out there.”Notre Dame played without All-American tight end Michael Mayer, standout edge rusher Isaiah Foskey, cornerback Camera Hart and protective lineman Jayson Ademilola.”This is what real life is about: the capability to respond to situations,” Freeman said.The Associated Press contributed to this story.