ND’s Leonard clears protocol, back for 2nd half
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard started the second half of Thursday’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State after clearing concussion protocol at halftime, coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN’s Molly McGrath while coming out of the locker room.
After getting medical clearance to return to the game, Leonard led the No. 7 Fighting Irish on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession of the second half. He scored on a 3-yard run to pull the Irish into a 10-10 tie with 10:46 left in the third quarter.
Leonard, a senior transfer from Duke, was injured after throwing an incomplete pass to Jordan Faison with 1:35 to go in the second quarter. He was hit by Nittany Lions defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas. The back of Leonard’s helmet appeared to bounce off the turf at Hard Rock Stadium.
Backup quarterback Steve Angeli, a sophomore from Westfield, New Jersey, finished the half for the Irish. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards on the drive.
Mitch Jeter kicked a 41-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut Penn State’s lead to 10-3. The big play of the scoring drive was Riley’s 36-yard pass down the right sideline to tailback Aneyas Williams.
While Leonard returned, his top blind-side protector, starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp, was ruled out for the rest of the game because of a sprained ankle, McGrath reported. Knapp left the field after being rolled up on and went straight to the locker room. He emerged after halftime in a walking boot.
Senior Tosh Baker replaced Knapp at left tackle.
Knapp, a true freshman who earned several freshman All-America honors, moved into the starting lineup after projected starter Charles Jagusah tore a pectoral muscle early in preseason camp. Jagusah returned to practice in December and entered Thursday night’s game at guard, filling in for Rocco Spindler and making a key block on Leonard’s touchdown run.
