Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
OFFENSE: EVERETT GOLSON The senior quarterback accounted for 79.1 percent of Notre Dame's offense with 315 (259 passing and 56 rushing) of the 398 total yards. His 25 completions (in 40 attempts) were a career high and were spread among eight different targets, with perfectly placed touchdown passes to sophomores Will Fuller on a slant and Corey Robinson on a 15-yard back shoulder toss in a tight window between defenders. Despite four sacks, he still was the top rusher with 56 yards, high- lighted by a 15-yard scoring run. He also evaded several other sacks with completions. DEFENSE: JAYLON SMITH This was a tough call between the sophomore Smith and junior end Ro- meo Okwara, who recorded a game- high and career-high 11 tackles (he had never had more than five in a game), forced a fumble and took the bulk of snaps because freshman co- starter Andrew Trumbetti was side- lined with an injury. However, Smith spearheaded a second-half effort against the run and pass — he was used more in pass pres- sure packages for the first time — and eight of his nine tackles were solo, in- cluding a fourth-and-one stop in the first half. SPECIAL TEAMS: KYLE BRINDZA He continued his excellence in all three phases. On kickoffs, five of the senior's seven were touchbacks — in- creasing his total this year to 17 touch- backs on 22 opportunities. On punting, two of his four kicks were 50-plus yards and two pinned Purdue inside its 20. And after miss- ing his first field goal attempt, from 50 yards, he converted from 19, 48 and 39 yards, the latter two in the second half to provide Notre Dame a little more breathing room. When most needed, he has consis- tently delivered in every aspect. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY LOU SOMOGYI Senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza had another strong game, converting 3 of 4 field goals, while booming two 50-yard punts and pinning Purdue inside its 20 twice. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA