Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1050818
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 19, 2018 21 Top Performer: With a pass pres- sure on third down to help one drive and a half-sack on another to stop another, Hayes led an Irish defense that kept the Seminoles at bay for the majority of the first half. Stats: Notre Dame's 37 first-half plays featured 18 rushes for 141 yards and 10-of-19 passing for 111 yards and three scores by Wimbush, a 252-yard total. Florida State ran 43 plays for 183 yards, coming on 15- of-27 passing for 134 yards and 16 rushes for 49 yards. Items: Florida State reduced its deficit to 17-6 when Akers scored on a direct snap that resulted in an eight- yard score — but the extra point was blocked by senior defensive tackle Jerry Tillery that junior cornerback Julian Love returned for two points and a 19-6 advantage with 13:17 left … The FSU drive covered 75 yards on 16 plays and took 7:36 … An in- complete pass by Francois on fourth- and-six at the Notre Dame 33 ended an FSU drive with 8:08 remaining … The Irish followed that stop with a 67-yard touchdown march that fea- tured 21- and 17-yard completions to Finke, the latter on third-and-six, and then another outstanding leap- ing catch by Mack in the end zone with 6:18 left to expand the margin to 32-6. THIRD QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 35, FLORIDA STATE 13 Top Moment: Trailing 35-13, Florida State had second-and-goal from the Notre Dame 1-yard line, but running back Jacques Patrick Senior tight end Alizé Mack hauled in a pair of leaping touchdown catches to help the Fighting Irish race out to a 32-6 halftime lead. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA