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 15 UNDER THE DOME 75 Years Ago: Nov. 20, 1943 For the first time ever, Notre Dame hosts a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown, with head coach Frank Leahy's top-ranked Fighting Irish prevailing in a 14-13 victory versus No. 2 Iowa Pre-Flight, a semi-pro World War II team. Only 18 years old, John Lujack plays all 60 minutes for Notre Dame at quarterback and on defense, highlighted by a one-handed interception he makes near the sideline against future NFL star wideout Perry Schwartz. Iowa Pre-Flight leads 7-0 at halftime before a 59-yard pass from Lujack to All-American end John Yonakor sets up a four-yard run by Bob Kelly to help knot the score at 7-7. Early in the fourth quarter Pre-Flight takes a 13-7 lead — but the extra point misses when it hits the upright. The Irish then re- spond with a touchdown drive that is capped by All-American Creighton Miller's six-yard scoring run, followed by the crucial second extra point by Fred Earley for the decisive point. Twenty-five years later would be the next No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown at Notre Dame (versus Pur- due in 1968) — and it would be another 25 years for the third (Florida State in 1993). The cycle was broken this year. 40 Years Ago: Nov. 18, 1978 Two weeks after setting a single-game Notre Dame rushing record with 219 yards during a 27-7 victory against Navy, junior running back Vagas Ferguson rewrites the standard again with 255 yards on 30 carries while leading No. 10 Notre Dame to a 38-21 decision over No. 20 Georgia Tech at Grant Field in Atlanta. Both teams enter the contest on seven-game winning streaks, but on the second play Ferguson romps for a 68-yard gain, and later adds a 20-yard scoring gallop to build a 17-0 lead. By halftime Ferguson already has 188 rushing yards. The onslaught continues in the second half when quarterback Joe Montana ties Angelo Bertelli's 1943 school record of 10 consecutive completed passes, connecting on his final 10 to finish 14 of 19 for 190 yards, with a touchdown to Kris Haines. After the Irish move ahead 38-15, Georgia Tech fans begin pelting the Notre Dame sidelines with ice, eggs, fish and bottles, prompting head coach Dan Devine to take his team out to midfield before order is restored. 30 Years Ago: Nov. 19, 1988 For the first time ever, the No. 1-ranked Fighting Irish leave Notre Dame Stadium with a 10-0 record, closing out the home schedule with a 21-3 victory versus Penn State to snap a three-game losing streak to the Nittany Lions. After the contest, Notre Dame accepts a bid to play to play 10-0 and No. 4 West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl in a potential national title showdown — although the Irish must first win at No. 2 USC the follow- ing week after having already upset No. 3 and previous No. 1 Miami earlier in the year. Quarterback Tony Rice completes 10 of 18 passes for 191 yards versus the Nittany Lions, highlighted by a 67-yard touchdown to Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, to help offset two interceptions. Rice is also the team's top rusher with 84 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, while tailback Mark Green, in his final home game, scores the other touchdown on a 22-yard run. 20 Years Ago: Nov. 21, 1998 One of the wildest games ever at Notre Dame results in the No. 10 and now 9-1 Irish surviving a 39-36 decision versus LSU, coached by former Notre Dame All-American Gerry DiNardo. LSU scores first on an interception return and later on a Kevin Faulk kickoff return, but the Irish also score twice on defense with a 13-yard fum- ble return by Lamont Bryant and an 89-yard inter- ception return by Bobbie Howard to cut the score to 34-33 — after a missed extra point. Both LSU and Notre Dame miss two extra points apiece. The Irish score the go-ahead points on a 10- yard pass from Jarious Jackson (276 passing yards and 80 rushing yards) to Raki Nelson with 1:27 left. However, when Jackson "takes a knee" in the end zone for a safety, a knee injury results in him getting sidelined for next week's game at USC. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Nov. 15‑21 Quarterback Jarious Jackson accounted for 356 yards of total offense and threw the game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass to Raki Nelson with 1:27 left to lead the Fighting Irish to a 39-36 win over LSU in 1998. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS