(PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL)

(Notre Dame) — Notre Dame believes it has the best running back room in the country.

Saturday helped make the case.

Behind 157 yards from Jeremiyah Love and a four-touchdown performance from Jadarian Price, Notre Dame steamrolled Purdue, 56-30, in a lightning-delayed game at Notre Dame Stadium.  The victory is the first of the season for the 24th-ranked Irish.

“I told them let’s enjoy this, but it’s only momentary gratification,” said a relieved Irish head coach Marcus Freeman afterwards. “It wasn’t perfect. There’s work to do and things we have to get fixed.”

The first half was a shootout as the two offenses combined for 58 points. Notre Dame scored on its first play from scrimmage, as quarterback CJ Carr lofted a perfect spiral into the arms of Malachi Fields, who finished off the 66-yard touchdown to give the Irish a 7-0 lead.

Purdue wasted little time responding, as Devin Mockabee tossed a halfback pass to quarterback Ryan Browne to knot the game at 7.

The Irish running game would do the job most of the half. Love carried eight times on a 10-play drive, knifing in from the one. On Notre Dame’s next possession, Price took over for Love late in the drive and used his first carry of the day to scamper 21 yards for a 21-10 Irish lead.

After a Christian Gary interception, Price scored again from nine yards out. The Irish led 28-13 late in the first half when lightning delayed the game for nearly two hours.

When play resumed, Purdue kicked a field goal to narrow the gap to 28-16. Price caught the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line, broke a tackle at the 22 and ran 100 yards to give Notre Dame a 35-16 lead. But Purdue answered quickly, as Browne connected with NorthWood alum Nitro Tuggle on a 24-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, cutting the lead to 35-23.

“Explosive plays. There has to be a reduction of those,” said Freeman, pounding his fist on the podium. “When we bring pressure and bring five, we can’t allow a quarterback to sit back there. If we’re going to play seven in coverage, we might have to cover a little longer. Two-minute drive, that really hurt us.”

Notre Dame dominated the second half, with big plays. Love bounced a run to his right and down the sideline for a 46-yard sprint to paydirt. Carr found Jordan Faison on a 48-yard deep ball for the score. And Price added a one-yard touchdown run as Notre Dame scored on seven of its first eight drives.

“Our offense is explosive, man,” praised Freeman. “They’re getting big plays. They’re able to control the clock, control the line of scrimmage and that’s detrimental to a defense. It’s tough on a defense. I’m real proud. They put a lot of work into it.”

“One thing that gets overlooked is how the receivers block on the perimeter,” Price said to the remaining crowd after the game. “Our receivers did a great job blocking today.”

Still, it’s not all seashells and balloons for the Irish. The defense allowed 303 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, raising plenty of questions regarding defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s plan.

The loss drops Purdue to 2-2 on the season, as the Boilermakers resume Big Ten play next week, playing host to #9 Illinois. Notre Dame plays its only road game of September, traveling next Saturday to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas.