Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1416392
24 OCT. 9, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TURNING POINT Following a scoreless first quarter that was controlled by the defenses — Notre Dame was particularly stout while limiting Cincinnati to just 38 yards on 12 plays — the game flipped in favor of the Bearcats during a three-minute stretch early in the second quarter. On third-and-seven from the Irish 25-yard line, freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner dropped back to pass but was hit by Cincinnati defensive end Myjai Sanders as he threw the ball. The pass fluttered well short of the intended target and was intercepted by linebacker Deshawn Pace who returned it 27 yards to Irish 8-yard line. Three plays later, the Bearcats scored to take a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore running back Chris Tyree muffed a short kick and it was recovered by Cincinnati linebacker Wilson Huber on the Irish 17-yard line. After allowing one first down, the Notre Dame defense stiffened and forced a short field goal. The Irish found themselves in a 10-0 hole, which proved difficult to climb out of between their offensive inefficiency and a talented Cincin- nati defense. STAT OF THE GAME During his four years as the defensive coordina- tor in Cincinnati, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman achieved quite a bit of success. Among the many things his units did well was force turnovers. The Bearcats ranked 10th na- tionally in takeaways (21) in 2020 and forced a least one turnover in each of Freeman's final 20 contests with the program — the longest active streak in the nation. That streak was broken in this year's season opener, but the Bearcats quickly returned to their ball-hawking ways by forcing eight turnovers in their two games prior to facing Notre Dame. They continued that momentum in South Bend, com- ing away with three big takeaways in the first half of their matchup with the Fighting Irish. The first one came on the opening possession of the game. After the Irish had driven 69 yards in 10 plays and had second-and-goal at the Cincinnati 6-yard line, linebacker Darrian Beavers pressured quarterback Jack Coan into a bad throw that was picked off by cornerback Ahmad Gardner. The next two came during the aforementioned turning point, giving the Bearcats a pair of short fields they converted into a 10-0 lead. OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES The fourth-quarter explosion against Wisconsin that included a kickoff return touchdown and pair of defensive scores made it pretty easy to over- look the performance of the Notre Dame offense. The Irish produced just 242 total yards, includ- ing only three on the ground, and 3.5 yards per play in their 41-13 victory over the Badgers. According to The Athletic, the Irish became the first FBS team since at least 2000 to rush for 10 or fewer yards and still win a game by 28 or more points. It wasn't much prettier against Cincinnati. The Irish compiled 346 total yards and 4.6 yards per play. The offensive line permitted a season-low two sacks and seven tackles for loss, but still had a tough time limiting penetration by the Cincinnati defense. In fact, both of Notre Dame's interceptions were the result of pressure from the nation's No. 1-ranked pass rush per PFF. Despite the offensive struggles, Notre Dame could still play its way into a New Year's Six Bowl. Warts and all, the Irish are currently favored to win each of their remaining seven games. The big- gest challenge ahead may be settling on a quar- terback and becoming a more efficient offense. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY STEVE DOWNEY DE ISAIAH FOSKEY Notre Dame's junior vyper recorded the Irish's biggest tackle of the game — a strip sack of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder midway through the third quarter. The forced fumble set up the Irish's first touchdown of the day. Foskey finished with three total tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry. WR BRADEN LENZY The senior wide receiver had his best game of the season to date. He caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. On the score, Lenzy had to come back to a ball thrown by sophomore Drew Pyne in the right corner of the south end zone. He won the battle with the Cincinnati cornerback covering him and came down with his fourth career touchdown. TE MICHAEL MAYER Playing through a groin injury he sustained in preseason and aggravated during the game, the sophomore tight end still caught eight of 12 targets for 93 yards. He had two 20-yard catches on the day; the first from gradu- ate student quarterback Jack Coan on fourth-and-10 on Notre Dame's first drive and the second on third-and-five from Pyne early in the fourth quarter. LB ISAIAH PRYOR After not playing much against Wisconsin the week prior, the graduate student linebacker got plenty of snaps against the Bearcats. He made the most of them. Pryor finished tied with junior linebacker JD Bertrand for the team lead in tackles with six. He set the edge well for the Notre Dame defense on multiple Bearcats rushing plays to the boundary. QB DREW PYNE For the second week in a row, the sophomore quarterback replaced Coan in the second half. This time it was under different circumstances. Coan was not injured. The Irish offense just needed a spark. The numbers — 9-of-22 passing for 143 yards with a touchdown — weren't great, but the results were a bit better. Pyne led Notre Dame's only two scoring drives of the day. GAME BALLS BY TYLER HORKA Sophomore tight end Michael Mayer widened his team lead for receptions and receiving yards by catching eight passes for 93 yards against Cincinnati. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER