Notre Dame staves off Toledo with late touchdown pass

By Barry Werner

Jack Coan has become a hero in his second start for Notre Dame.

The grad transfer from Wisconsin led a 75-yard drive in the final 95 seconds, throwing an 18-yard TD pass to Michael Mayer as the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish posted a 32-29 victory over Toledo on Saturday.

TD ✌️ for @MMayer1001 ☘️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/yGjedRxLlC

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 11, 2021

And the two-point conversion:

.@realaverydavis ➡️ @Kyrenwilliams23 😱#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/0TcA00fCK5

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 11, 2021

The winning score came with 1:09 left and the drive was aided by a pair of pass interference penalties against the Rockets.

The final 15 minutes saw a combined 31 points by the Rockets and Fighting Irish.

Irish hold on 32-29 after recovering a fumble.

Toledo had 11 penalties against Notre Dame. Six came in the final 90 seconds.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) September 11, 2021

Coan threw for 233 yards and a pair of TDs, both to Mayer. Oh, and he had to have a dislocated finger popped into place as the winning drive developed.

Trailing with 1:13 to play, Jack Coan had his dislocated finger popped back into place.

He threw the game-winning pass on the very next play. pic.twitter.com/HGQudMplE8

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 11, 2021

Toledo had taken the lead with 1:35 left on a 26-yard run by Dequann Finn.

TOUCHDOWN RRRROCKETSS!!!!!

Dequan Finn takes it to the house from 26 yards out!!! #ONEROCKET

TOLEDO 29
#8 Notre Dame 24

Tune In on Peacock: https://t.co/Fp51n9JJZG pic.twitter.com/aab1zb3Uby

— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) September 11, 2021