Notre Dame's Miles Boykin made one of the most spectacular catches in bowl history during the 2018 Citrus Bowl, securing a game-winning touchdown with one hand and helping the Irish secure their first New Year's Day bowl victory in nearly a quarter-century.
The game itself was a closely contested affair, with Notre Dame managing only a Justin Yoon field goal before halftime, taking a slim 3-0 lead into the locker room. LSU responded in the second half, eventually building a 14-6 advantage and forcing the Irish to search for answers.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly had already made one of the afternoon's biggest decisions by turning to sophomore quarterback Ian Book in the second quarter. Book remained behind center for the rest of the afternoon, completing 14 of his 19 pass attempts for 164 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 rushing yards.
Book's decision to trust his quarterback was a significant one, as he had shown promise but had never been asked to carry Notre Dame through a New Year's Day bowl game. Kelly's faith in Book was rewarded almost immediately, as the quarterback engineered a 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Michael Young.
Even then, the drama wasn't over. LSU answered with a deliberate drive that consumed nearly six minutes before settling for a go-ahead field goal with just over two minutes remaining. Ed Orgeron elected to take the points rather than gamble on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, trusting his defense to preserve the lead.
It also gave Notre Dame one final opportunity. With 1:28 remaining, quarterback Ian Book lofted a pass toward the right sideline, placing it perfectly high enough that only wide receiver Miles Boykin could reach it. Boykin extended his right arm, securing the football with one hand while keeping his balance near the boundary.
The catch was already an extraordinary one, but Boykin made it even better by shrugging off a tackle attempt, slipping past a defender, and accelerating untouched the remaining distance to the end zone. Fifty-five yards later, Notre Dame had the lead.
The touchdown instantly became one of the defining highlights of Brian Kelly's tenure, but reducing it to simply an incredible catch misses what made the moment so meaningful. Kelly trusted a quarterback who had spent much of the season waiting for his opportunity, and Boykin rewarded that trust with the biggest moment of his career.
Years later, Notre Dame fans still remember Boykin's catch, and they should. It was breathtaking. But perhaps the lasting significance of that afternoon wasn't the catch itself. It was what the play represented: Notre Dame finally finishing and ending years of January frustration.
In the end, Notre Dame won the game 21-17, securing their first New Year's Day bowl victory in nearly a quarter-century. The Irish's victory marked a significant turning point in the program's history, one that would have a lasting impact on the team's future success.
Source: Yahoo Sports