The Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Michael Floyd caught three touchdown passes and had 157 yards receiving Saturday as Notre Dame pulled away in the third quarter to beat Western Michigan 44-20 for its third straight victory.

Floyd took a pass from Dayne Crist and raced 80 yards for a score on the game’s first play from scrimmage, caught a 32-yarder on an option pass from John Goodman for a touchdown and later grabbed a 2-yarder from Crist in the third.

The Irish (4-3) led 27-17 at the half, using two interceptions to set up TDs.

Cierre Wood’s 39-yard TD run got the Irish rolling in the third and their defense blanked the Broncos in the second half until John Potter kicked a 26-yard field goal with just over five minutes left.

Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder ran for a pair of first-half touchdowns for the Broncos (2-4) on a windy day at Notre Dame Stadium. He finished 28 of 43 for 277 yards.

Crist passed for three touchdowns, completed 18-of-28 for 255 yards and also ran for a score in three quarters of action.