Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/195693
on paper revisited Notre Dame Running Game Vs. USC Run Defense The highlights were junior running back Cam McDaniel's 36- and 24-yard scampers during what would prove to be the game-winning 91-yard touchdown drive in the first half. The rest of the designed Irish running plays, including the more utilized read option with backup senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix, resulted in only 94 yards on 34 attempts, or three yards per carry. The Irish finished with 129 yards on the ground, just below their 136-yard average. Advantage: USC Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. USC Pass Defense A tale of two halves. Senior starter Tommy Rees was 14-of-21 passing for 166 yards with two scores before a rare sack with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter knocked him out of the game with a neck strain. Senior reserve Andrew Hendrix was 0-of-4 passing thereafter. It reminded us of 1998 when the Irish lost 10-0 to USC when an injured Jarious Jackson couldn't start and no replacement was ready. Rees' first half was just enough in what very easily could have been a defeat. If Rees was taken for granted or not fully appreciated by the fandom, that should change. Advantage: USC Special Teams Usually the edge would not go to a team that was 1 of 3 on field goals, missing from 40 and 46 yards, in a game decided by four points. This is an exception. Three times USC set up a wall to the left side on a punt return that burned the Irish. The first was a 48-yard punt return by Agholor that set up a 22yard field goal and a 10-7 lead. Agholor later added 16- and 34-yard punt returns to USC's 48- and Notre Dame's 33-yard line, respectively. The Irish also surrendered a 33-yard kickoff return. Two Notre Dame punts bottled USC at its 9- and 6-yard lines, but Kyle Brindza's last five punts, none By lou somogyi intended to be "pooched," totaled 22, 33, 51 (returned 33 yards), 33 and 30 yards while USC won the field position battle. Advantage: USC Third-Down Conversions Seventeen straight third-down conversions failed — 10 by USC and seven by Notre Dame. It wasn't until midway through the fourth quarter that the streak ended with a two-yard run by Andrew Hendrix on third-and-two. Notre Dame then missed its final two, including third-and-two near the final two minutes of the game that could have prevented some late drama. On the game's opening series, Notre Dame was unable to punch it in on third-and-goal from the 2 and fourth-and-goal from the 1. Still, the Irish were 4 of 14 (28.6 percent), with a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Troy Niklas on third-and-five, compared to USC's 2 of 13 (15.3 percent) while missing on all of its final 11 attempts. Advantage: Notre Dame Turnovers Both teams had one in the second half. Jaylon Smith made a leaping interception at the Irish 41 on the third play after intermission, and McDaniel lost his first fumble, returned to the Irish 34, in the fourth quarter. Neither miscue resulted in points. Advantage: Even Summary The Irish special teams had their worst performance of the season and the offense its worst second half since the 38-3 debacle at USC in 2008, but a magnificent defensive effort managed to compensate for both deficiencies. The entire second half was put on the Irish defense to win it, and the more it was backed into difficult circumstances, the better it seemed to respond, if not thrive (a replication of the 2012 regular season). USC began four straight second-half possession at its 48, Notre Dame's 33, Notre Dame's 47 and Notre Dame's 34 — and netted zero points. ✦