Sam Hartman led Notre Dame to a 21-14 victory over Duke on Saturday night. The quarterback waited to check on Riley Leonard before celebrating.
The Blue Devils quarterback suffered an apparent leg injury at the end of Saturday’s game. Hartman stayed on the field as Leonard got treated inside the sideline medical tent.
The two briefly shared words when Leonard emerged in crutches. ESPN shared Hartman’s “class act” on Saturday night.
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
Calling the game for ESPN, Kirk Herbstreit said the moment embodied the “type of player [Hartman] is and the way he carries himself.” Other colleagues also commended the senior’s gesture.
“Sportsmanship exists,” Ed Werder wrote.
Sportsmanship exists. https://t.co/KjbPcdHzDu
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 1, 2023
“What a humble warrior,” Holly Rowe said. “And very classy at the end wanting to go check on Riley Leonard.”
Sam Hartman did not want to take the credit for thr @NDFootball win but his run for 17 yards on 4th and 16 was the ballgame. What a humble warrior. And very classy at the end wanting to go check on Riley Leonard. pic.twitter.com/w1HdWOTeRm
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 1, 2023
“Blessed to have Sam Hartman.. if only for a season!” Hannah Storm stated.
Blessed to have Sam Hartman.. if only for a season! ☘️☘️ https://t.co/vgyAjDRFLq
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) October 1, 2023
Down 14-13, Hartman drove the Fighting Irish 95 yards in nearly two minutes. The Wake Forest transfer kept the game alive with a 17-yard run on 4th-and-16 before Audric Estime scored a 30-yard touchdown.
While Notre Dame bounced back from its own heartbreaking loss against Ohio State, Duke watched its quarterback and undefeated record go down.
Leonard ran for a team-high 88 yards at Durham. The junior has accrued 912 passing yards and 326 rushing yards this season for the 4-1 Blue Devils.
“I don’t know what he’s feeling, but I’ve been there,” Hartman said of Leonard after the game, via Josh Graham. “It’s a dark place to go to. He played a hell of a game. He’s a hell of a player.”