SOUTH BEND, Ind., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Cornerback Shane Walton and linebacker Courtney Watson each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the third quarter Saturday, carrying the ninth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish past Stanford, 31-7, and giving Coach Tyrone Willingham a victory against his former team.
Willingham spent seven years at Stanford (1-3) before taking over at Notre Dame last winter.
With Carlyle Holiday still nursing an injured left shoulder, Pat Dillingham got the start at quarterback for the undefeated Fighting Irish (5-0).
Dillingham was largely ineffective as Willingham kept his offense conservative. Notre Dame was held to a field goal in the first half and trailed, 7-3, at intermission to a team that allowed 65 points in a loss to Arizona State last week.
But the defense, which continues to be Notre Dame's strong suit, put away the contest in the third quarter.
The Fighting Irish finally took the lead, 10-7, on Rashon Powers-Neal's one-yard run with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter. Just 24 seconds later, Walton returned an interception 17 yards to make it 17-7.
With 1:09 left in the period, Watson rambled 34 yards, extending Notre Dame's advantage to 24-7. Ryan Grant's one-yard touchdown run capped the scoring early in the fourth.
Notre Dame continued its best start since 1993, when the Fighting Irish won their first 10 games. Willingham joined Jesse Harper (1914), Frank Leahy (1941) and Ara Parseghian (1964) as the only Notre Dame coaches to win their first five games.
Dillingham completed 14 of 27 passes for just 129 yards, but Notre Dame had a pair of 100-yard rushers. Powers-Neal ran for 108 yards on 13 carries while Grant picked up for 103 yards on 18 carries.
Chris Lewis of Stanford completed 21 of 43 passes for 201 yards, but threw three interceptions.
Lewis gave Stanford a 7-0 lead by tossing a 14-yard strike to Teyo Johnson with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
Notre Dame closed to within 7-3 on Nicolas Setta's 30-yard field goal with 2:03 remaining in the first half.
