With a slew of backs rotating in and out of the game, there was no slowing down the Fighting Irish backfield.
Notre Dame secured its fifth win of the football season Friday night, defeating Division II-AA East Region visitor Knoxville Webb 29-22.
Notre Dame (5-1, 3-0) had the clock rolling steady all game via its methodical, single-wing offense. Five Irish backs totaled 397 yards rushing, accounting for almost the entirety of their total offense.
"When you have a game like this, a game of attrition, being able to put fresh legs in each play allowed us to finish the game like we did," Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said.
Receiver Cameron Wynn touched the ball on every snap of a five-play, 58-yard drive and finished it with a 5-yard run up the gut for the first Notre Dame touchdown of the game.
The next Irish scoring drive was an 81-yard march down the field featuring a host of backs. Wynn scored yet again, muscling his way into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. He finished the game with three touchdowns on 24 rushes for 161 yards.
Jeffery Watkins Jr. contributed with 98 yards on 14 carries. Fant quickly credited his offensive line.
"I tip my hat to them. They were warriors all night," the coach said. "We won the football game because of them."
Wynn also had nothing but praise for the Irish big guys.
"I give all my thanks to the linemen," he said. "Every time I scored, it was because they were fighting down the line."
Knoxville Webb (0-6, 0-2) found success moving the ball in the second half. The Spartans counted on running back Jahlil Jefferson to produce big plays to keep them in the game, as he finished with all three of their touchdowns. However, Notre Dame replied to each Webb score with a long touchdown drive of its own to finish the game off.
"Every time they got a score, the offense never panicked," Fant said. "Every time they scored, we were able to answer."
Contact Kevin Dempsey at sports@timesfreepress.com.