Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1290311
20 SEPT. 26, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI I t's not how your team starts a game that is important, coaches will often say, but rather how they close. An exception was expected to be made versus South Florida during No. 7-ranked Notre Dame's 52-0 rout to move to 2-0. After stumbling out of the gates in the opener versus Duke with three straight three-and-out series on of- fense and leading only 17-13 in the fourth quarter before finishing with a 27-13 victory, the Fighting Irish es- tablished dominance from the outset versus the Bulls. The offense scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions, and five of the six it had in the first half to build a 35-0 halftime lead. The de- fense complemented that supremacy by limiting USF to one first down in those first 30 minutes despite not hav- ing several starters available because of injuries or other health reasons. In the year of COVID-19, sudden surprises in the depth chart will be inevitable, so quality play from re- serves is essential. About 90 minutes before kickoff, Notre Dame announced eight play- ers would be unavailable either be- cause of previous injury or health is- sues. Four were starters or co-starters on defense: junior cornerback TaRiq Bracy, sophomore safety Kyle Ham- ilton (sprained ankle in opener), and a pair of Buck linebackers in junior Taking The Bulls BY THE HORN Notre Dame sets the tone early and often during 52-0 rout of South Florida