Notre Dame star quarterback Riley Leonard exited the Orange Bowl late in the first half on Thursday night after taking a big hit as the 7-seed Fighting Irish battle with 6-seed Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinal game. Leonard initially tried to re-enter the game before backup Steve Angeli took his place.
Leonard’s injury appeared to occur when 305-pound Penn State defensive tackle Dvon J’Thomas drove him into the ground as he fired an incompletion. ESPN reported that Leonard entered concussion protocol following the hit, while Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said at the half that he was told Leonard would need further evaluation.
The injury to Notre Dame’s star signal-caller came as the Fighting Irish trailed 10-0 and were struggling to move the football. Leonard’s exit added to a long list of injury issues for Notre Dame, which also lost two starting offensive linemen in the first half.
Angeli provided a spark in Leonard’s place by completing 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards as the Fighting Irish moved into position for a 41-yard field goal from Mitch Jeter as time expired in the first half. The kick brought Notre Dame within 10-3.
Entering the game with 19 career appearances, Angeli had completed 52 of 72 passes with 10 touchdowns and just one interception. The most substantive action of his career came in the Sun Bowl last season when he threw three touchdowns in Notre Dame’s Sun Bowl win over Oregon State.
