NOTRE DAME — The Notre Dame defense is 30 minutes away from a shutout in its final home game of the year.

The No. 3 Irish (10-0) lead Wake Forest (5-5) 31-0 at the half.

Notre Dame set the tone early on when senior tailback Cierre Wood sprinted 68 yards for a touchdown in the opening two minutes of the game. Wake Forest took over, but not for long.

Early in the Demon Deacon drive, senior linebacker Carlo Calabrese smothered running back Josh Harris, knocking the ball loose in the process. Safety Zeke Motta recovered and Golson led Notre Dame on an 8-play, 52-yard drive topped by a 2-yard touchdown toss to Tyler Eifert.

Senior receiver John Goodman joined the list of seniors playing spectacularly on the following series. Golson aired out a 50-yard pass that Goodman caught in the end zone, marking the receiver’s third touchdown in five catches this year.

By the end of the first quarter, the Irish had 21 points, 221 total yards offense and all the momentum.

After four double-digit-yard completions on the first drive of the second quarter, Golson threw an interception on a long bomb intended for Robby Toma. The quarterback bounced back to find TJ Jones on a 34-yard touchdown pass on the following possession.

Notre Dame closed out the first half on a 38-yard pass from Golson to Eifert but couldn’t capitalize with a touchdown. Kyle Brindza nailed a 25-yard field goal to give the Irish 31 points.

Golson is 17-25 for 317 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the first half. Cierre Wood leads running backs with 104 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jones has five receptions for 84 yards and a score.