Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1426496
22 NOV. 13, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TURNING POINT Although Notre Dame had limited Navy to 52 total yards, it led only 10-3 when it regained possession of the ball late in the first half. After a Midshipmen punt took a fortuitous bounce and pinned the Fighting Irish at their 5-yard line with just 1:50 remaining, it appeared that would likely be the halftime score. However, junior running back Kyren Williams proceeded to rip off runs of 10 and 12 yards to move the ball out to the 27-yard line and give the Fighting Irish more room to operate. After an incompletion and a three-yard pass to Williams, graduate student quarterback Jack Coan found senior wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. streaking down the left sideline on a perfectly executed 70-yard touchdown pass. The five-play, 95-yard drive in exactly one min- ute of game time provided the Irish with a two- score cushion heading into the break that they would not relinquish in the final 30 minutes. STAT OF THE GAME This year's version of Navy's triple-option attack is not as dynamic as it has been in years past, but the job done by coordinator Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame defense was laudable. Freeman and Co. limited the Midshipmen to just 166 rushing yards and 3.0 yards per attempt. It marked the first time in six years the Fighting Irish held Navy to less than 200 rushing yards. Notre Dame lost contain on a reverse and on one pitch play that resulted in gains of 32 and 18 yards. Navy's other 53 rushing attempts netted a meager 2.2 yards per carry. Fifty of Navy's 58 of- fensive plays resulted in gains of five yards or less. This game also marked the first time during head coach Brian Kelly's tenure that the Irish held the Midshipmen out of the end zone. It's the fewest points Navy scored since a 50-10 Irish victory in 2012, which was also the last time the Midshipmen failed to record a rushing touch- down in the series. PHYSICAL FRONT One of the calling cards the Fighting Irish have had during their recent run of excellence — 51-9 (.850 winning percentage) since the start of the 2017 campaign, just the third time the program has produced 50 wins during a five-year stretch — has been its strength in the trenches. The offensive line has gotten quite a bit of attention, but you cannot overlook how sturdy and dependable the defensive front has been. Despite having four defensive ends selected in the NFL Draft the past two years, that position group was still arguably the strongest and deep- est on the team heading into the season. Nine games and eight wins into the season, it would be hard to dispute that — especially after watching that group play against Navy. The Irish defensive front shined during the dominant 34-6 triumph over the Midshipmen, setting the tone with its physical play and controlling the line of scrimmage. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY STEVE DOWNEY WR KEVIN AUSTIN JR. It took nine games, but the senior wide receiver finally went eclipsed 100 receiving yards in a game. Austin caught six of seven targets for 139 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 70-yard sprint down the left sideline. His best catch of the day was an over-the-shoulder snag for a gain of 38 yards down the same sideline. He looked like a true No. 1 wide receiver. LB JD BERTRAND The junior linebacker put together another on-brand performance against the Midshipmen, finishing with nine tackles. Bertrand has recorded at least six tackles in all nine games this season and leads the team with 80 total stops. Graduate student linebacker Drew White played with an injured knee, so it was crucial for Bertrand to keep play- ing well for the linebacker corps. He did. QB JACK COAN The graduate student had another efficient game, completing 23 of 29 pass attempts for 269 yards with a touchdown. Coan has not thrown an interception since he was benched in the loss to Cincinnati Oct. 2. He's taking care of the football and giving Notre Dame a chance to win. That's why head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish brought him in, and he has really settled into his role in the second half of the season. DL KURT HINISH The graduate student went into the game with a career high of five tackles. He left it by doubling that total in a 10-tackle effort against the Midshipmen. Hinish also had a sack and two tackles for loss. Navy tried to run right at the Notre Dame defense, and Hinish was there time and time again to stop ball carriers not too far from the line of scrimmage. RB KYREN WILLIAMS As well as Coan has performed of late, it's clear who the Notre Dame offense leans on the most — Williams. He had 17 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the team in receptions for the second time in three weeks. He caught seven passes for 36 yards. His 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was another highlight reel worth saving. Including his kickoff (29) and punt (16) return yard- age, he finished with 176 all-purpose yards. GAME BALLS BY TYLER HORKA Graduate student quarterback Jack Coan completed 23 of 29 throws for 269 yards with a touchdown while helping the Irish amass 430 yards of total offense and 7.0 yards per play. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER