Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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24 SEPT. 11, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TURNING POINT Florida State had all the momentum heading into overtime, after outgaining the Irish 137-33 in total yards and outscoring them 18-0 while rally- ing from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Seminoles had the first possession in extra time and seemed poised to surge back in front. However, on third-and-four from the Irish 19-yard line, Notre Dame brought pressure that appeared to result in a fumble and 13-yard loss for FSU. The Noles actually lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt but called a timeout right before the snap. So close in fact that redshirt freshman kicker Ryan Fitzgerald attempted the kick and made it. The play was reviewed and the call was re- versed, with the officials ruling it was an incom- plete pass. That allowed Fitzgerald to attempt a 37-yarder, which he promptly hooked wide left. Notre Dame managed just two yards on three plays on its ensuing series, but graduate student kicker Jonathan Doerer delivered a game-winning 41-yard field goal. STAT OF THE GAME Last year, Notre Dame dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball for much of the season. The Irish compiled 211.1 rushing yards per game and limited opponents to just 113.0. However, Florida State racked up 264 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry, while Notre Dame managed just 65 on a measly 1.9 yards per carry. The Seminoles' 264-yard effort marked the first time it had eclipsed the 250-yard mark against a top-10 foe since they did it in a 49-37 win versus Clemson in 2012. On the other side of the ball, an Irish offensive line with four new starters had trouble creating running lanes against an aggressive and athletic FSU front seven. The Noles finished the game with nine tackles for loss and four sacks. It didn't help that the Irish lost freshman left tackle Blake Fisher to a strained knee, but it may take the new group some time to jell. WORK TO BE DONE There was no denying that the Florida State program had fallen on hard times the past three years. Still, this felt like a dangerous game to open the season and it certainly played out that way. The Seminoles added an influx of talent to their program with nine players from the transfer por- tal, including former Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton (5-of-7 passing for 48 yards) and former Georgia defensive end Jermaine Johnson (seven stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks). The Irish, meanwhile, had to replace four start- ers along the offensive line, were breaking in a new quarterback — albeit an experienced one in graduate student Jack Coan — and were adjust- ing to a new defensive coordinator. Not surprisingly, there were mixed results. After the game, Irish head coach Brian Kelly lamented that his team had work to do. The good news, though, is that they get to work on the things they didn't do well after a victory rather than a defeat. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY STEVE DOWNEY GRADUATE STUDENT QUARTERBACK JACK COAN What a warm welcome for the graduate transfer from Wisconsin. Much of the offseason was spent wondering if Coan could operate a high- powered passing attack. He answered that in game one and then some. Coan completed 26 of 35 passes for 366 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He also broke current Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' program record for passing yards in a season opener. Rees had 346 against Temple in 2013. JUNIOR VYPER ISAIAH FOSKEY Foskey is well on his way to exceeding his 2020 sack total. He had two sacks in 2021's season opener against the Seminoles, both of which came in the first half. He also finished the game with eight tackles, which was tied for second on the team. JUNIOR SAFETY KYLE HAMILTON The preseason All-American made his presence known with two inter- ceptions, both of which led to Notre Dame offensive touchdowns. Notre Dame scored 21 points off Florida State turnovers, and 14 of them came right after interceptions from Hamilton. SOPHOMORE TIGHT END MICHAEL MAYER Notre Dame made a point of getting Mayer the ball early and often. He scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with a game- high nine catches for 120 yards and the score despite a couple of crucial drops — one on third down in the first quarter and another that would have potentially given graduate student kicker Jonathan Doerer a chance to end the game in regulation. JUNIOR RUNNING BACK KYREN WILLIAMS Williams might have had the Notre Dame offense's play of the game, and there were plenty to choose from. Williams took a screen on third- and-17 from the Notre Dame 24-yard line to the Florida State 21. He scored five plays later on another screen on third-and-goal. The touch- down put Notre Dame ahead 38-20 in the third quarter. Williams finished with 125 yards from scrimmage. GAME BALLS BY TYLER HORKA Junior safety Kyle Hamilton notched his first game with multiple interceptions, and the Irish converted both into touchdowns. PHOTO BY BOB MYERS