Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/208902
pittsburgh game notes By Dan Murphy and andrew owens Stephon Tuitt's Targeting Ejection Stumps Irish The return of Notre Dame's firststring defensive line lasted one quarter and one play against Pittsburgh. Sophomore end Sheldon Day, senior nose guard Louis Nix III and junior end Stephon Tuitt — each slowed by injuries at some point this season — started together for the first time since mid-September, but played only about a dozen snaps as a unit before getting unhitched again. Their undoing this time was not an injury, but a perceived intent to injure. Tuitt collided helmet to helmet with Pitt quarterback Tom Savage on the first play of the second quarter while trying to prevent a first down. Referees flagged the 6-6¼, 322-pound end for targeting, a foul that comes with Red Zone EffIciency (Inside 20-Yard Line) No Poss. TD FG Score Pittsburgh 33 00 Notre Dame 32 01 On a hit during the first play of the second quarter, Tuitt appeared to lead with his shoulder but made helmet-to-helmet contact with Pitt quarterback Tom Savage, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty and Tuitt's removal from the game. photo by bill panzica Notre Dame vs. pittsburgh Quarter-By-Quarter Comparison Pittsburgh 1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr. 1st Half 2nd Half Total Time of Possession 6:37 11:11 9:52 8:53 17:48 18:45 36:33 3rd-Down Conversions 0-32-51-30-2 2-81-5 3-13 4th-Down Conversions 0-00-00-00-0 0-00-0 0-0 Average Field Position Pitt-35Pitt-17Pitt-22Pitt-43 Pitt-27Pitt-34 Pitt-30 Notre Dame 1st Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr. 1st Half 2nd Half Total Time of Possession8:233:495:086:07 12:12 11:15 23:27 3rd-Down Conversions 1-51-32-31-3 2-83-6 5-14 4th-Down Conversions 1-10-00-00-1 1-10-1 1-2 Average Field Position ND-20ND-29ND-27ND-21 ND-25ND-24 ND-24