No. 11 Notre Dame topped No. 17 Duke, 21-14, on the road in Durham, North Carolina on Saturday night in a tense game that came down to the wire.
Fighting Irish running back Auric Estime gave his team the lead with a 30-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, and with quarterback Sam Hartman leading a good two-point conversion, Notre Dame took a seven-point lead. Duke had just 31 seconds to try to make something happen, and unfortunately, it was an awful ending for the Blue Devils.
On second-and-five from their own 30-yard line, Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was sacked and fumbled the ball, which Notre Dame recovered and effectively ended the game. But Leonard went down extremely awkwardly and looked to be in horrible pain on the ground afterward.
Leonard was in Duke’s medical tent when the game ended, and Hartman waited to celebrate and hung around for him to exit. Eventually, Leonard came out on crutches, seemingly not putting any weight on his right ankle, and the two quarterbacks shared a brief moment together.
Sam Hartman stayed on the field to check on Riley Leonard after he got injured on the final drive.
Class act 👏 pic.twitter.com/oEsEGe3b3N
— ESPN (@espn) October 1, 2023
A classy moment and the epitome of sportsmanship.
College football Twitter loved to see it.
Powerful shot there on ABC — Sam Hartman waiting outside Duke injury tent to check in on Riley Leonard. Sportsmanship epitomized.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 1, 2023
Blessed to have Sam Hartman.. if only for a season! ☘️☘️ https://t.co/vgyAjDRFLq
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) October 1, 2023
Radical sportsmanship. He waits to share a moment with his valiant competitor before celebrating. This is the character we want sports to build or reveal. https://t.co/oJEVi1mi0s
— Robert Boland (@RobertBolandESQ) October 1, 2023
Not a notre dame fan but much respect for this moment. Sometimes someone in sports does something good. https://t.co/PLbbaDPnZP
— DocCraig (@psychdoccraig) October 1, 2023
After an emotional, comeback victory, Sam Hartman waits for Riley Leonard outside Duke’s medical tent.
The two QBs embrace after taking part in one of the best games of the college football season.
All class from Hartman.
And hope Leonard is back on the field ASAP. pic.twitter.com/i1ECBmtogH
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) October 1, 2023
Sam Hartman waiting outside the tent after the game for Riley Leonard was so awesome
Hopefully nothing serious for the Duke QB🙏 pic.twitter.com/peOW4MFrHc
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 1, 2023
True sportsmanship 👏
Before he celebrated with his team, Sam Hartman waited to check on Duke QB Riley Leonard.
(via @JoshGrahamShow)pic.twitter.com/Gmay8dsKe1
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 1, 2023
that’s my quarterback. nothing but respect. https://t.co/bNSKrhHSlM
— mar (@hischier16) October 1, 2023
Classy gesture by Sam Hartman to wait outside the injury tent after the game to check on Riley Leonard. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/UanEAr0rjT
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) October 1, 2023
good guy Sam 🫡
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 1, 2023
Sportsmanship exists. https://t.co/KjbPcdHzDu
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 1, 2023
Better than trolling after a win
Between this gesture and the Travis Hunter making up with the Colorado St player that injured him — a good week of sportsmanship in college football 👌 https://t.co/PsoRYGZ1ao
— Neil Horowitz (@njh287) October 1, 2023
