The University of Notre Dame defeated the University of Cincinnati 41-12 Friday evening in South Bend, Ind.

Cincinnati actually scored first in this game and led deep into the first half. Austin Baker got the Bearcats on the scoreboard with a try, and he converted it as well for a 7-0 UC lead. Notre Dame replied with Bobby Hogan coming in support of Matt Strosser to go in at the corner. That made it 7-5 for Cincinnati, and then the Bearcats added to their lead when Baker chased down a nifty kick from Eric Lalley to score his second to make the score 12-5. 

Notre Dame replied once more with Patrick McMahon powering over to make it 12-10 but it wasn’t until just before halftime that the Fighting Irish took the lead to make it 17-12 Notre Dame at the break - the forwards, led by McMahon and Luc Joseph got them going forward and Mack Vanek went over.

A very close game, then, but the second half was all Fighting Irish. Good defensive pressure set up a try for Griff Gilmore. The forwards powered on and Vanek got his second. Then John Gadient went over and Eric Mitchell set up McMahon for his second to finish off the game 41-12.

It was a pretty impressive second half for the Fighting Irish, who are playing their first season under new coach Justin Hickey. They trailed for about 30 minutes, but worked their way back, and then put the game away thanks to the efforts of the forwards.