The Notre Dame Varsity Football team began the 2019 season with a come-from-behind win over Linden High School 27-19 in a game that spanned two days as a result of a weather delay.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, scoring on a short drive following an interception in Irish territory and returning a sack-fumble for a touchdown.
After a Julian Lee field goal cut the lead to 13-3, Notre Dame received a boost right before halftime as Clayton Bone intercepted a pass with Linden driving and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to send the Irish into the break down only 13-10.
Early in the third Notre Dame recovered a fumble on the Linden 18-yard line and turned it into a Lee field goal to tie the score. Later in the quarter, Jacob Bendtsen hit Ryan Cueny for a 55-yard reception to set up a Connor Gaeschke touchdown to put the Irish up 19-13.
Weather struck late in the third quarter and the game would be delayed to the following morning with 2:21 left in the third.
Notre Dame would continue its momentum the next day as Bendtsen would find Bone for a 44-yard catch-and-run leading to another Gaeschke touchdown to up the lead to 27-13. The Eagles would score to make it 27-19 and would get the ball back but the Irish defense would come up with a stop on fourth down to put the game away.
Bendtsen threw for 177 yards in the win, Gaeschke carried 23 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns and Bone led all receivers for the Irish with 64 yards.
Next up for Notre Dame is a home matchup with Muskegon Catholic Central, who won their opener 21-0 over Algonac.