Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/373357
OFFENSE: EVERETT GOLSON Head coach Brian Kelly described his play as "electric." His 14 comple- tions in 22 attempts were good for 295 yards, but it was how he evaded the rush and bought time to complete long passes, including the 53-yard score to junior slot receiver C.J. Prosise right before halftime, that made all his teammates better. He seems to be at his best when he has to improvise or when the play breaks down, i.e., his four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter on a missed assignment. DEFENSE: JOE SCHMIDT Sophomore Will linebacker Jay- lon Smith made a couple of excel- lent tackles in space to help get the defense off the field and excelled per usual, while sophomore corner- back Cole Luke's coverage was out- standing in his starting debut. How- ever, the nod goes to Schmidt, not so much because of the team-high eight tackles — including a couple of thundering hits — but because of his coaching on the field, especially with safety and captain Austin Col- linsworth out of the lineup. T h e re w a s a l i t t l e m o re o n Schmidt's plate as a leader without Collinsworth assisting in directing the defense. SPECIAL TEAMS: CODY RIGGS Senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza will get this most of the time, and his kickoffs through the end zone were consistent. In this particular contest, though, Riggs set such a positive tone to the game with his 24- and 25-yard punt returns to tilt the field position in Notre Dame's favor. It was just refreshing to see punt returns actually become a weapon in the Irish arsenal. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY LOU SOMOGYI Senior linebacker Joe Schmidt led the way for the Irish defense, recording a team-best eight tackles. PHOOT BY BILL PANZICA