C.J. Sanders sparks No. 6 Notre Dame past Massachusetts, 62-27

C.J. Sanders scored on a 50-yard punt return to spark sixth-ranked Notre Dame to four consecutive touchdowns on the way to a 62-27 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday.

DeShone Kizer threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brown with six seconds left in the first half to give the Fighting Irish a 35-20 lead after one half.

C.J. Prosise scored on a 16-yard run and freshman Dexter Williams had a 14-yard touchdown run to open the second half to give Notre Dame a 48-20 lead.

“The special-team work was outstanding,” Coach Brian Kelly said, pointing out Sanders especially. “He’s a very shifty runner. He’s got great vision. It was a big play. It gave us momentum, certainly.”

Marquis Young had an 83-yard touchdown run for the Minutemen (0-3), and Sekai Lindsay and Jamal Wilson each had a one-yard touchdown run.

Notre Dame is 4-0 for the second consecutive season and for the third time in six seasons under Kelly, but only for the sixth time since its last national championship in 1988.

The Fighting Irish were struggling until Sanders’ punt return.

Sanders cut at the 35-yard line to avoid two defenders and made another cut at the 10 before racing into the end zone with 3 minutes 21 seconds left in the first half to give the Fighting Irish a 28-20 lead.

The 62 points were the most by Notre Dame since a 62-0 victory over Rutgers in 1996 in Lou Holtz’s final home game as the team’s coach.

Kizer completed 15 of 22 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and freshman Brandon Wimbush was three of five for 17 yards and scored on a 58-yard run late in the third quarter.

Will Fuller had his sixth touchdown catch this season for Notre Dame.