Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/204831
Senior wide receiver TJ Jones became the fourth Notre Dame player in history to catch 159 career passes while notching four grabs for 111 yards and a touchdown against Navy. (knee) and sophomore defensive end Sheldon Day (ankle), Okwara often lined up in the five-back deep and along the line. 3 Consecutive games the opposition scored a touchdown against Notre Dame on its opening possession. USC drove 96 yards, Air Force 71 yards and Navy 56 yards. USC and Air Force didn't cross the goal line again. Navy did four more times. 5-0 Notre Dame's record both in 2012 and 2013 in games decided by seven points or less. The 2012 team set the school record for best winning percentage in one season in such games with at least five played, and this year's Irish have already tied it — with four games remaining. 10 Consecutive victories in games decided by seven or fewer points by Notre Dame. That is now tied for second most in school history with Knute Rockne's final four teams from 1927-30. The record is 12 by head coach Elmer Layden's Fighting Irish from 1937-39. The last time ND lost such a contest was 18-14 to Florida State in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl after holding a 14-0 secondhalf lead. 75:11 photo by bill panzica Minutes and seconds Notre Dame's defense had not given up a score in the second half until Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds tallied on a four-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Arizona State scored a touchdown versus the Irish with 11 seconds remaining in its 37-34 loss Oct. 5. 148 Yards rushing on 18 carries by freshman fullback Jerome Heavens in 24-3 victory versus Georgia Tech in the Nov. 8, 1975 — better known as "The Rudy Game." That remains the most ever in a game by an Irish freshman back — but Tarean Folston came close with 140 yards on 18 carries versus Navy. 159 Career receptions by senior captain TJ Jones after nabbing four for 111 yards versus Navy. That moved him into fourth place on the all-time Notre Dame chart, just ahead of the 157 apiece by former All-Americans Tom Gatewood (1969-71) and Golden Tate (2007-09). The only three ahead of Jones are Michael Floyd (271), Jeff Samardzija (179) and Rhema McKnight (170). Jones also became the 10th Notre Dame player to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards.