Book, Boykin connect to lead Notre Dame over Pitt

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Wide receiver Miles Boykin had a message for quarterback Ian Book after the No. 5 Notre Dame remained unbeaten Saturday, coming from behind and then holding off Pittsburgh 19-14 on Saturday.

“I told him winning is fun, but let’s not win like this again,” the 6-foot-4 Boykin said after he caught the game-winning, 35-yard touchdown pass from Book with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Book and Boykin have had memorable moments before — their 55-yard touchdown with 1:28 in the Citrus Bowl last Jan. 1 provided the Irish with a 21-17 victory over LSU.

Saturday’s TD completion helped to improve the Irish to 7-0 for the first time since 2012, the year they went to the BCS title game for coach Brian Kelly.

Pitt (3-4) led 14-12 thanks to a long first-quarter touchdown drive and a 99-yard kickoff return by Maurice Ffrench to start the second half.

But the Irish, who were held to 80 yards rushing, prevailed behind Book. Book was intercepted twice, but finished with 264 yards passing.

“I didn’t even see [Book] throw it,” Boykin said after finishing with four receptions for 84 yards. “I just saw the ball up there and thought I have to catch up to this. It was a dime. [Ian’s] a baller. He’s always calm and poised.”

As far as Book is concerned, it’s mutual admiration.

“(Miles is) really rangy, so I just got to put it up there and give him a chance,” Book said. “Day in and day out, he works so hard. I think our chemistry is starting to come along a little bit.”

Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers were looking to upset an Associated Press top-five team for the third straight season.

“I feel bad for our kids in the locker room,” Narduzzi said. “I’m disappointed for them. They fought their tails off. We were ahead almost the entire game. Sometimes you can’t control what you can’t control. We went toe-to-toe with a top-five team and we didn’t pull it off in the end.”

Kenny Pickett was 19 for 28 for 126 yards, and was sacked by Khalid Kareem — Notre Dame’s only sack of the game — for a loss of 14 yards on Pitt’s final possession to set up a fourth-and-long the Panthers could not convert.

Pitt also ran a strange faked punt, inserting third-string quarterback Jeff George Jr. as the punter and having him throw, on its second-to-last drive around midfield that failed.

“[Trying] to get a first down,” Narduzzi said. “That certainly wasn’t the game.”

UP NEXT

Pitt: Off next week and plays host to Duke Oct. 27.

Notre Dame: Off next week and plays Navy in San Diego Oct. 27.