Walton’s 97-yard touchdown leads Notre Dame’s 58-7 rout of Stanford

Jonaz Walton broke free for a 97-yard touchdown and finished with 181 rushing yards as No. 3 Notre Dame defeated Stanford 58-7 Saturday in South Bend. The freshman scored twice on 13 carries, helping the Irish reach 6-0 with a performance that overwhelmed Stanford on the ground and through the air.

Walton’s first touchdown came on the opening offensive play of the second quarter. Notre Dame was backed up at its own three-yard line, already ahead 14-0, when he carried the ball the length of the field. The score stretched the lead to 20-0 after a missed extra point and gave the Irish their longest play of the afternoon.

Notre Dame’s official recap identified Walton’s 181 yards as a program record for a true freshman. His second touchdown came on a 40-yard run early in the fourth quarter. NBC’s clip of the 97-yard score shows the play that turned an already difficult start for Stanford into a three-touchdown deficit.

The defense had created the first short field. Boubacar Traore strip-sacked Davis Warren on Stanford’s first offensive play, and Jaiden Ausberry recovered the ball at the Cardinal 18. Nolan James Jr. finished the ensuing possession with a two-yard touchdown run. Notre Dame’s opening advantage arrived before Stanford had completed a drive.

CJ Carr added a three-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse late in the first quarter. After Walton’s long run, Spencer Porath made a 33-yard field goal, James scored from 31 yards, and Aneyas Williams took a Carr pass 70 yards for another touchdown. ABC57’s game report documented the 37-0 halftime lead, which removed any need for Notre Dame to chase offense after the break.

Carr still added a 30-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Burress in the third quarter. He finished 14 of 20 for 181 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while contributing 41 rushing yards. James supplied 73 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Javian Osborne’s three-yard touchdown run completed the scoring with three minutes remaining.

Stanford’s only touchdown came late in the third quarter, when Warren found Benji Blackburn from three yards out. Caden High’s 52-yard reception helped create that opportunity. Warren completed 12 of 22 passes for 144 yards, one touchdown and one interception; Stanford finished with 202 total yards and only 58 on the ground.

Notre Dame accumulated 598 yards, including 361 rushing yards, and converted eight of 13 third downs. Stanford converted two of 11 and committed three turnovers. Traore also intercepted a pass, adding another possession to an Irish offense that finished without a giveaway.

The explosive touchdowns supplied the highlights, but the possession numbers show how sustained the difference was. Notre Dame held the ball for 37:10 and recorded 26 first downs to Stanford’s nine. The Cardinal fell to 2-4, while the Irish’s unbeaten season continued behind their freshman runner and a defense that made its first impact immediately.