Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510995
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 18, 2023 19 throw a pick-six because we're unlucky. We gotta figure out why that happened, and how do we fix it." After pulling within eight a second time, 31-23, Notre Dame got the ball back in a position to come back and win six times. But Hartman — who threw his second interception with just less than two minutes to play — and the Irish passing game couldn't get it done. "We had ample opportunities to score," Hartman said. "We had am- ple opportunities to make plays and, frankly, I just didn't make them." Notre Dame will enter its Week 11 bye with a lot to think about on the long flight home. The Irish could have all but cemented a successful season with a win in Death Valley against a .500 Clemson team reeling after a loss to North Caro- lina State. Instead, the Notre Dame offense looked overmatched down the stretch against a Clemson defense missing four starters: two at safety, one at defen- sive end and one at cornerback. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame went 4-of- 14 passing, rushed 5 times for 17 yards and only picked up 2 first downs. "Every coach, every player in that locker room has to own where we're at," Freeman said. "There's no magic formula to improve. There's no magic formula. It's hard work, and it's the only thing we know how to do." The Irish will play their last two games for a one-win improvement over their 2022 campaign. The first one kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Nov. 18 against Wake Forest in South Bend. FIRST QUARTER CLEMSON 10, NOTRE DAME 3 Top Moment: Clemson running back Phil Mafah, starting in place of the injured Will Shipley, ripped off a 41- yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead with 6:57 left in the quarter. Clem- son never trailed again. Feature Performer: Notre Dame junior tailback Audric Estimé had two hurdles on one play, his second carry of the game, which went for 23 yards. He finished the frame with 7 carries for 66 yards. Stats: Notre Dame outgained Clemson in total yards, 111 to 80. The Irish averaged 6.9 yards per play to the Tigers' 5.7. Items: Graduate student kicker Spencer Shrader made a 43-yard field goal to open the scoring … Graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman was sacked for the first time on third down on the Irish's second posses- sion, a three-and-out … Senior wide receiver Chris Tyree muffed a punt in his own territory, leading to a Clemson field goal; graduate student safety DJ Brown broke up a would-be touchdown on third and goal to force the kick. SECOND QUARTER CLEMSON 24, NOTRE DAME 9 Top Moment: Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. undercut an out route. Hartman's poor pass intended for sophomore tight end Holden Staes was picked off and returned for a touchdown to make it 24-6 Clemson with 8:33 left in the first half. Feature Performer: Estimé again had 7 carries in the second quarter, just like the first, but he only managed 16 yards. The Clemson defense keyed in on Notre Dame's featured back, and they shut him down cold. Stats: Clemson outgained Notre Dame in total yards, 84 to 76. The Ti- gers averaged 6.0 yards per play to the Irish's 4.8. Junior linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had a huge game for Clemson, recording 11 total stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and an interception he returned 28 yards for a touchdown that staked the Tigers to a 24-6 lead. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP