Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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32 JUNE/JULY 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED midfield for the first time. The defense shoved it right back onto its own side. Coan misfired on first down, senior linebacker Bo Bauer dropped senior running back C'Bo Flemister for a two-yard loss on second down and junior defensive end Isaiah Foskey sacked Coan on third down. SECOND QUARTER Blue Offense From Own 25, 14:55 Buchner came in for one play in the first half. He scrambled for three yards by putting a juke on Ta- govailoa-Amosa on the drive's first snap. The next two plays totaled three yards and led to a punt. Gold Offense From Own 25, 13:41 Once again, a promising start when Coan and Davis connected for 22 yards. Junior running back Kyren Williams then touched the ball on four of the next five plays in his only notable action of the game. Included in those were a 14-yard catch and a 10-yard run that put the Gold offense at the Blue 23. On the next play, Coan threw an interception trying to find Williams on a shallow out route. Senior line- backer Shayne Simon had him cov- ered the whole way and grabbed it instead, ending a seven-play drive. Blue Offense From Own 25, 10:51 This nine-play drive started with an incompletion and sack from fifth-year senior nose tackle Kurt Hinish to bring up third-and-18. But Pyne heaved to Lenzy for 22 yards and a first down to keep it alive. Two plays later, he con- nected with freshman tight end Mitch- ell Evans for 32 yards on a play-action pass down to the Gold 31. The offense backpedaled from there with a third-down sack from Liufau followed by a false start. The ensuing fourth-and-long attempt was unsuccessful. Gold Offense From Own 25, 6:52 A three-and-out began with an eight-yard Flemister run, but soph- omore defensive end Alex Ehrens- berger's three-yard tackle for loss on him the next play set up third-and- five. Wilkins' three-yard catch wasn't enough to convert. Blue Offense From Own 25, 4:43 Two plays went for no gain and on third-and-10, Pyne threw late and behind Keys on a crossing route. Walters stepped in front of him to intercept the pass. Gold Offense From Opponent 40, 3:30 Blue compounded the intercep- tion when Ademilola committed a facemask penalty after a five-yard Takacs catch, which gave Gold first- and-10 at the Blue 20. Once again, the Gold offense spun its wheels. A third-and-four sack by senior defen- sive tackle Jayson Ademilola forced Gold to settle for a 37-yard field goal from junior walk-on kicker Harrison Leonard. SCORE: Blue 3, Gold 3 Blue Offense From Own 25, 1:25 A two-minute drill reached the Gold 31-yard line before a turnover on downs just ahead of halftime. Fac- ing another third-and-18 two plays in — caused by a sack from sopho- more defensive end Jordan Botelho — Pyne completed to Keys for 41 yards. After a spike on first down, the next three plays were passes to Keys. None of them were comple- tions, and the half ended. THIRD QUARTER Blue Offense From Own 25, 15:00 (running clock) B u c h n e r re l i e v e d P y n e a n d bombed away for three straight com- From The Locker Room HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On the quarterbacks: "We wanted to see decision-making, we wanted to see management of the game, we wanted to see how the quarterbacks handle them- selves in the pocket and out of the pocket. What kind of throw are they making? On-platform throws? "[Offensive coordinator] Tommy [Rees] did a great job of giving them all the varied throws we put in so we could continue to help them grow and develop. All of them did a fine job of what we asked them to do in this format." On freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner: "It's the growth progression for him. Today he took a big step up. He was given more of an opportunity, obviously, by being live. I thought he took advantage of it. He had some really good throws down the field. The one to Lenzy, the deep ball, did a nice job with it. "We're never going to close the door on what can help our offense be a better offense. We're not going to say, 'Well, Tyler Buchner is a freshman, he can't play.' If he can help our team, we'll find any role for someone who can help us. He just needs to continue to grow, continue to learn, and if we feel like when we get to the fall there's a role of some form that can help us with Tyler Buchner, we'll consider that as well. Whatever makes up better is what we'll consider." On senior linebacker Shayne Simon: "Shayne is so assignment-correct. He has been that way. There are times where we felt the awareness piece has been a lag for him a little bit. He has picked up on the awareness. "Today was great awareness [on his interception]. He sees [junior running back] Kyren [Williams] in the slot, he has seen that play before and he immediately reacts to it. Those are the growth things you look for, and Shayne has shown that kind of growth." On senior tight end George Takacs: "George Takacs, who's about 152 years old, it was nice to see old man George out there today. George is an undervalued player on our roster. He can make plays for us. He's a talented player. It was nice to see him have some success. I think he will have more success moving forward. "George has had a good spring and we expect him to be a contributor for us in the fall." — Patrick Engel Senior George Takacs, the No. 4 tight end last year, took his extended opportunity and produced 32 yards on three catches. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS