Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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22 NOV. 12, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Meanwhile, freshman running back Isaiah Bowser was the work- horse for the Wildcats with 14 first- half carries for 51 yards, with 11 attempts for 39 yards during the sec- ond quarter. Stats: The Wildcats outgained the Irish in total yardage during the sec- ond quarter 80-18. They ran 25 plays compared to Notre Dame's eight. Items: Notre Dame ran 35 plays in the first half for 162 yards (107 pass- ing and 55 rushing), while North- western's 37 netted 116 (63 rushing and 53 passing) … Book was only 1-of-4 passing in the second quarter for nine yards and finished the first half 7 of 15 for 107 yards. THIRD QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 21, NORTHWESTERN 7 Top Moment: After Northwest- ern's punt on the opening posses- sion of the half, Notre Dame drove 80 yards in 11 plays, with Book complet- ing 7 of 9 passes for 77 yards, capping it with a 20-yard touchdown pass on third-and-five to senior wideout Miles Boykin in the end zone. That drive set a tone with the pass that would continue the ensuring se- ries for the Irish. Top Performer: On the two touch- down drives of 80 and 98 yards, Book completed 10 of 13 throws for 169 yards with two touchdowns. He then completed a 26-yard pass to Chris Finke on the final play of the third quarter to finish 11-of-14 passing for 195 yards in the quarter. Stats: Notre Dame outgained Northwestern 209-32 in total yards during the quarter. Items: A nine-yard sack by junior drop end Julian Okwara on third- and-eight from Notre Dame's 46- yard line on the first possession of the second half forced a Northwest- ern punt … On its second series of the half with a 14-7 lead, the Irish were backed up at their 2-yard line, but on second-and-10 Book launched a 31-yard completion to junior wide receiver Chase Claypool … Four plays later, Book went deep again, this time connecting with sophomore wideout Michael Young on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 2:33 remaining to provide a 21-7 cushion. FOURTH QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 31, NORTHWESTERN 21 Top Moment: Leading only 24-21 and facing third-and-four at the Northwestern 23-yard line, Book faked to Williams on the zone play and took it wide for a 23-yard touch- down with no one near him to give Notre Dame a 10-point lead with 2:45 left in the contest. It concluded a 10- play, 89-yard drive that took 4:20. Top Performer: Besides the 23-yard score, Book had a nine-yard scamper and also snuck for a first down on third-and-one from his 40-yard line. Stats: Notre Dame finished with 464 total yards (343 passing and 121 rushing), while the Wildcats had 249 yards (141 passing and 108 rushing). Items: Yoon's 43-yard field ex- panded Notre Dame's lead to 24-7 with 13:05 remaining … The Wildcats followed with a 70-yard drive that concluded with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Thorson to sophomore wideout Riley Lees, who was cov- ered well by freshman nickel Houston Griffith in the end zone but was able to make the catch with 11:10 remain- ing … With the Irish leading 24-14, a blocked punt by defensive back Cam Ruiz gave Northwestern possession at Notre Dame's 17-yard line, and on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line Thorson snuck in for his second score to cut the deficit to 24-21 at the 7:05 mark … The Wildcats' next drive with the score 31-21 was stopped short of the first down at its 34-yard line. ✦ The Fighting Irish recorded five sacks of Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson and limited the Wildcats to 249 total yards. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA