Stokes was targeted seven times and finished with two receptions for 57 yards. He had another touchdown reception wiped out due to a penalty but it was a
highlight-worthy grab.
Listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, Stokes entered the game on Notre Dame's third offensive series in the first quarter. He was targeted immediately on first down but the pass from quarterback
Wyatt Brown sailed incomplete.
There was plenty of hype surrounding Tyran Stokes' football debut at Notre Dame. He largely surpassed expectations with a 45-yard touchdown and another reception to finish with 57 yards. (PHOTO: Greg Fiore)
Stokes made his first catch midway through the second quarter with a 12-yard pickup on a first-down slant. He nearly had a leaping 8-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone late in the second, but officials ruled that he did not come down cleanly with the catch and was out of bounds.
His touchdown catch came with a running clock in the fourth quarter that extended the lead to 57-14.
Stokes has basketball offers from more than 25 collegiate programs, including Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina and Oregon.
Tyran Stokes celebrates his touchdown during a big win for Notre Dame on Friday night. (PHOTO: Greg Fiore)
Per California Interscholastic Federation bylaws, Stokes was required to participate in 10 padded practices before he could play in a varsity game.
Stokes, who spent his first two high school seasons at Prolific Prep in Napa, follows in the footsteps of former high-profile basketball prospects to play high school football such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, among others.
Stokes led the
Notre Dame basketball team to the Southern Section Open Division and state Open Division semifinals before losing to
Roosevelt (Eastvale) in both. He averaged 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a junior en route to MaxPreps All-American honors.
Notre Dame improves to 3-2 and opens Mission League play next week with a home game against
Loyola (Los Angeles).
