Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/208902
on paper revisited attack was able to establish any rhythm, with junior George Atkinson III's 57 yards on six carries representing the highest output, highlighted by a 33-yard scamper. The zone stretch play was stonewalled all night. Complementing the basic up-the-gut plays were three fly sweeps to senior wideout TJ Jones, one of which resulted in a 35-yard gain. The positive was that Notre Dame did average 5.8 yards per carry. The negative was it never got into a consistent flow with the run other than the two big plays, finishing with 138 yards on the ground. Advantage: Even Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. Pitt Pass Defense It was feast or famine for the Irish pass attack. The feast included 318 yards passing and a robust 17.7 yards per completion (Notre Dame entered the game ninth nationally with a 14.95 yards per completion average). Jones snared a perfectly placed 80-yard touchdown toss from signal-caller Tommy Rees among his career-high 149 yards receiving, and junior tight end Ben Koyack (four catches for 76 yards) continues to shine more each week. The pass blocking might be the best in the country, all things considered. The famine was Rees completed fewer than 50 percent of his throws again (18 of 39), among them several drops; Rees continues to have problems while throwing on the run; and, above all, three turnovers (one on a fumble by Jones at the Pitt 6-yard line after a 34-yard completion and two backbreaking fourth-quarter interceptions by Rees). Advantage: Even Special Teams Notre Dame's kick coverage woes continued when, after the first Irish touchdown, Pitt's Lafayette Pitts returned the kickoff 50 yards. However, Pitt also started from its 10 to start the second half because of a block in the back. In addition, George Atkinson III returned a kickoff 41 yards and a 13-yard punt return by Jones provided the Irish field position inside the Pitt 40 to set up a score. By lou somogyi After failing to pin Notre Dame deep inside its territory a couple of times in the first half, Pitt punter Matt Yoklic was outstanding thereafter, three times pinning the Irish inside their 20, once on a 56-yard punt. Notre Dame's Kyle Brindza punted well with a 46.2-yard average on his five attempts, with no returns. Advantage: Even Third-Down Conversions Neither offense excelled, with Notre Dame finishing 5 of 14 (35.7 percent) while Pitt was 3 of 13 (23.1 percent). The first Irish touchdown was made possible by a 10-yard completion to Koyack on fourthand-four from the Pitt 34. Pitt's top conversion came on third-and-six from the Irish 32 when a deep pass led to a pass interference call on cornerback Bennett Jackson, setting up the Panthers' second TD to tie the game at 14. Advantage: Notre Dame Turnovers Notre Dame barely survived a 2-0 deficit the previous week in a 38-34 defeat of Navy, but 3-0 in the hole at Pitt was too much. The first two miscues occurred after the ball was moved inside the Pitt 10yard line, with a fumble by Jones and an interception toss into the end zone by Rees. The last was a game-changer with safety Ray Vinopal returning an errant Rees throw to the Irish 5-yard line to set up the game-winning touchdown. Advantage: Pitt Summary Notre Dame went ahead by a touchdown three times through the first three quarters, but could never get up by two scores. Tuitt's dismissal from the contest on the first play of the second quarter was significant, but it did not justify the myriad of mistakes by the Irish. When you lose the turnover battle 3-0, including two near the goal line, you have no one to blame but yourself. Pitt earned the win with a more steady, methodical game on both sides of the ball.