Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1421675
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 30, 2021 23 4 Consecutive wins for Notre Dame against USC after this year's 31-16 vic- tory. It is the longest win streak for the Irish in the rivalry since they won 11 straight from 1983-93. 5 Drives of 70 yards or more for the Fighting Irish in their win over the Tro- jans. The last time they had five 70-yard drives or more in a game was in the 42-26 win over Florida State on Oct. 10, 2020. 6 Times during his Notre Dame career, junior running back Kyren Williams has tallied two or more rushing touchdowns in a game. He scored from five yards out and one yard out against the Trojans. 7 Consecutive games with a sack for junior vyper Isaiah Foskey to begin the 2021 season. Foskey recorded a pair of sacks against USC and now has a team-best 8.0 for the season. 8 Wins in 11 games versus USC for head coach Brian Kelly. That ties him with Frank Leahy (8-1-1) for the second most wins against the Trojans by an Irish head coach, just behind Lou Holtz (9-1-1). Kelly's eight wins have come against four different USC coaches — Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron, Clay Helton and Donte Williams. In addition, this year's win was Kelly's second by 14 or more points (the other was a 49-14 beatdown in 2017), making him the first Irish head coach since Holtz to beat USC by at least two touchdowns twice. Holtz did it three times, winning 27-10 in 1988, 31-13 in 1993 and 38-10 in 1995. 10-2 Record following a bye week for the Fighting Irish under Kelly. This year's contest marked just the seventh time in series history that both USC and Notre Dame both had a bye before playing each other. The Trojans were 5-1 in the first six, with wins in 1932, 1972, 1980, 2004 and 2009. Before this year's 31-16 win, the last time the Irish picked up a win in that scenario was a 38-7 triumph on Dec. 6, 1947. 180 All-purpose yards for Williams — a season-high 138 on the ground and 42 on a team-best six receptions. That is the most yardage he has compiled in a game since he racked up 196 versus Florida State last year. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 79 Yards for senior linebacker BO BAUER on his interception return. That is the longest interception return by an Irish player since Robert Blanton had an 82-yard return in Notre Dame's 31-13 win over Michigan State on Sept. 17, 2011. Like Bauer, Blanton's big return did not result in a touchdown. Bauer also tallied a career-high seven tackles against the Trojans. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER