Michigan State running back Gerald Holmes was running for more than just a win against Notre Dame.

On Friday, the junior running back learned that his grandmother had died while he was in a team meeting. Holmes, who didn’t get a carry two weeks ago against Furman, used the loss as motivation to rush for 100 yards and a pair of TDs in a 36-28 win over the Irish.

Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press quoted Holmes after the game:

“I ran out, but I knew I had a game today,” Holmes recalled late Saturday night inside Notre Dame Stadium. “I kind of steered the motivation from her to come out here and ball.”

Holmes’ biggest contribution of the night came on a 73-yard touchdown run to give the Spartans a 36-7 lead in the third quarter.

“I couldn’t sit down. I felt like everybody was shaking my hand and congratulating me and everything,” Holmes said of the aftermath. “It’s the longest run of my career so far. Hopefully, there will be plenty more to come. It felt like high school all over again running through that hole.”

You can read Solari’s full story of Holmes’ big night here.