SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For the first time since the season opener, there was no drama Saturday night in the Alamodome as Notre Dame throttled Washington 40-14 in an off-site “home” game for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame (6-2) took command of the game early on and never let off the throttle as it built a 30-7 halftime lead and never looked back.

Even though Notre Dame only outscored the Cougars (1-7) 10-7 in the second half, the outcome was never in doubt as Notre Dame improved to 15-0 on on Halloween.

Notre Dame is 6-2 for the first time since the 2005 season and heads into a tough month of November with a lot of confidence.

The Fighting Irish opened the scoring with a 29-yard Nick Tausch field goal and then made it 9-0 on a 7-yard pass from Jimmy Clausen to Duval Kamara.

The extra point attempt was blocked by the Cougars, however.

In the second quarter Notre Dame put the game on ice with three touchdowns, including one in the closing seconds of the opening half.

A 16-yard run by Golden Tate made it 16-0 and a 1-yard Robert Hughes run extended the Fighting Irish’s lead to 23-0.

After Washington State cut the lead to 23-7 and as time expired in the first half, Clausen connected with Tate on a 50-yard touchdown pass to close out the quarter and any chances the Cougars had of making a comeback.

Notre Dame, who entertains Navy on Saturday, scored the only points of the third quarter on a 23-yard Tausch field goal.

A 64-yard pass from Dayne Crist to John Goodman made it a 40-7 contest with 10:01 to play in the fourth quarter.

Washington State finally got into the end zone again with 5:16 to play as Jared Karstetter caught his second touchdown pass of the game from freshman Jeff Tuel. This one covered 8-yards. The first half touchdown reception was good for 11 yards.

The blowout was so complete that Notre Dame set single season highs in total yards (592), rushing yards (255), first downs (32) and points (40).

Clausen finished the game 22-of-27 for 268 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Hughes, who replaced injured Armando Allen, led the team with 131 yards on 24 carries.

Tausch’s two field goals broke the Notre Dame record for consecutive made field goals set in 1982 by Mike Johnston. Tausch has not kicked 14 consecutive field goals since missing his first collegiate attempt against Michigan back in early September.

Washington 0 7 0 7 -14
Notre Dame 9 21 3 7 – 40
ND  –  Tausch, Nick 29 field goal
ND   – Kamara, Duval 7 pass from Clausen, Jimmy (kick blockd)
ND   – Tate, Golden 16 run (Tausch kick)
ND   – Hughes, Robert 1 run (Tausch kick)
WSU   – Karstetter,Jared 11 pass from Tuel, Jeff (Grasu, Nico kick)
ND   – Tate 50 pass from Clausen (Tausch kick)
ND   – Tausch, Nick 23field goal
ND   – Goodman, John 64 pass from Crist, Dayne (Tausch kick
WSU   – Karstetter 8 pass from Tuel,Jeff (Grasu kick)