Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ter, regardless of what the distance is. You've got to put that guy in," Kelly said. "He's the best kicker. I've got to put him on the field, and he goes and kicks the field goal regardless of the conditions." Along with the 49-yarder, Brindza also connected from 21, 38, 26 and 25 yards away in a game that consisted of eight field goals between the two teams. He tied his career high of five makes that he first set in a close win to close out the 2012 regular season against USC. His 17 total points in the game (two successful extra points included) ties Nick Tausch and Nicholas Setta for the school record for most points scored by a kicker in a single game. He finished the 2013 season with 20 successful attempts, which is only a few less than the single season school record 23 he connected on last season. His combined total of 43 puts him in third place in the Irish record books. He moved past Craig Hentrich and Dave Reeve (each of whom kicked 39 in their careers) during the Pinstripe Bowl. It was also the fourth time this season and the seventh time in his career that Brindza made at least three field goals in a single game. His record-breaking numbers this season are as much a credit to Brindza as they are an indictment of a red-zone offense that has struggled to punch the ball into the end zone in the past two seasons. Notre Dame made five trips to the red zone, several on long drives, but scored only two touchdowns against the Scarlet Knights. Kelly said following the game that he has landed on a play-calling formula that he thinks will work in the future, but that strategy fell victim to MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • The Irish defense made a season-high four interceptions against Rutgers in the bowl. Senior safety Austin Collinsworth closed the game with his third of the year, the most of anyone on the team. Fifth-year senior linebacker Dan Fox made his second of the year earlier in the game. Senior Kendall Moore and sophomore KeiVarae Russell each added to the total. Russell's pick stunted a promising-looking, potentially go-ahead Rutgers drive at the goal line near the end of the first half. He stepped in front of a ball thrown by redshirt sophomore running back Paul James. Russell said his previous experience playing running back helped him read the trick play as it developed. "He totally was jogging, trotting, didn't have the ball covered," Russell said. "No running back is going to run the ball like that." Notre Dame had only eight interceptions as a team during the 12 games of the regular season. Coming away with four in the season finale kept them from setting a record low for the program in total turnovers that would date back to at least the post-World War II era. • Freshman safety Max Redfield made his first career start against Rutgers. He finished the game with one tackle. Redfield, a former five-star recruit, played mostly on special teams during the regular season. Interim defensive coordinator Kerry Cooks said he made as big a leap as any player on the roster during bowl preparation in December. • Notre Dame's win improves the team's all-time record at Yankee Stadium to 17-6-3. The Irish are 2-0 at the new version of the stadium. Rutgers was 1-0 at the new stadium coming into the game.