ORLANDO, Fla. _ Notre Dame forced two fumbles early, setting the tone as the Fighting Irish overpowered Iowa State, 33-9, during the Camping World Bowl in Orlando Saturday.
Receiver Chase Claypool, who finished with a team-high 146 yards, scored a touchdown and recovered a fumble on a punt return early in the first quarter that gave Notre Dame the football at the Iowa State 42-yard line. The Fighting Irish converted the turnover into a 39-yard Jonathan Doerr field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
Claypool was back at it again on the Irish's next offensive possession.
Quarterback Ian Book found Claypool, who leaped forward to haul in the 24-yard pass for a touchdown to spot Notre Dame a 10-0 lead. It was Book's 34th touchdown pass of the season and the 13th touchdown catch by Claypool.
No. 15 Notre Dame (11-2) has won 11 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1988-89.
The Fighting Irish entered the game leading the nation with 17 fumble recoveries, including nine over the final five games of the regular season. The defense held Iowa State to a season low nine points.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell gambled on a fourth-and-one at the Iowa State 45, but freshman tailback Breece Hall was tackled behind the line of scrimmage, giving the Irish the football.
Two plays later, Book found Claypool steaking down the middle of the field for what appeared to be a 43-yard touchdown. But after review, officials determined his knee was down at the 1-yard line. Jafar Armstrong scrambled to his right for a touchdown run that pushed the Notre Dame lead to 20-3 with 2:25 left in the first half.
Notre Dame running back Tony Jones took the handoff from Book before racing 84 yards for another Fighting Irish touchdown. It was the longest rushing play in Camping World Bowl history. Jones finished with a team high 134 yards rushing.
Iowa State (7-6) has now lost back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2011-12.
