Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/181992
three observations Turning Point After Notre Dame fell behind 14‑0 in the game's first 2:45, it steadied itself, cut the deficit to 14-7 and had driven to a first down at the Oklahoma 24 midway through the second quarter. On third-and-10, senior quarterback Tommy Rees' pass to junior wideout DaVaris Daniels on a crossing route was behind him, deflected by cornerback Zack Sanchez and picked off by nickel Julian Wilson at the 12. Oklahoma then drove 88 yards in 10 plays while milking 4:43 off the clock. Quarterback Blake Bell's 26yard touchdown pass to LaColtan Bester with 42 seconds left until halftime provided a crucial two-score momentum boost, 21-7. It was similar to Michigan scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass against the Irish with 20 seconds left until halftime to take a two-score advantage (27-13) into the locker room Sept. 7. Stat Of The Game Oklahoma won the turnover category 3‑0 with its three interceptions. All three turnovers morphed into Sooner touchdowns, most notably a 24-yard interception return for a score 49 seconds into the contest. A 21‑0 advantage in points off turnovers should carry the day 99 percent of the time. The second interception set up a 32yard touchdown drive by the Sooners to up their advantage to 14‑0 just By lou somogyi 2:45 into the contest. The third was our "Turning Point" when Oklahoma picked off a Tommy Rees toss at its 12-yard line after the Irish had narrowed their deficit to 14‑7. The ensuing 88-yard march provided a vital two-score lead at halftime, 21-7. Overshadowing the Notre Dame miscues is that the Irish defense has forced only four turnovers in five games, which ranks among the worst nationally in that category. 39 Years Ago To The Day On Sept. 28, 1974, four-touchdown underdog Purdue ended defending national champion Notre Dame's 13game winning streak with a 31‑20 victory. The upset featured the greatest opening-minutes salvo seen by an opponent in Notre Dame Stadium when the Boilermakers took a 21‑0 lead with 7:22 still remaining in the first quarter, including an interception return for a touchdown. Thirty-nine years to the day, Sept. 28, 2013, Oklahoma scored what we believe to be the two quickest touchdowns by an opponent in Notre Dame Stadium's 84-year history. Only 2:45 had been played when the Sooners built a 14-0 lead (compared to Purdue's 6:57 for its first two touchdowns in '74). One came on a 24-yard interception return by senior outside linebacker Corey Nelson and the second was an 11-yard sweep by senior running back Damian Williams, set up by another interception.