Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/413403
OFFENSE: CAM MCDANIEL If one is a stat geek, the natural pick is senior quarterback Everett Golson with his career-high 446 yards pass- ing and 10.6 yards per pass attempt. However, his five turnovers (four interceptions and one fumble) miti- gated that performance. Notre Dame made a tremendous comeback from a 34-3 deficit, nar- rowing it to 34-31, when the senior running back and team captain was inserted for pass protection and be- came a quiet catalyst. McDaniel con- sistently picked up blitzes to give Golson more time, caught a 24-yard pass to set up a touchdown and scored twice himself on hard-nosed, power runs. DEFENSE: MATTHIAS FARLEY On a day when the defense gave up 41 points (two of Arizona State's touchdowns came on interceptions returns) and missed tackles were far more abundant than in previous contests, the nod goes to the senior nickel back because he made Notre Dame's lone potential game-chang- ing play on defense. An aborted field goal attempt by Notre Dame when trailing 34-17 could have been deflating, but Farley's inter- ception and 27-yard return shortly af- ter that set up an Irish touchdown. He also recorded the team's lone sack on a blitz and had another tackle for loss. SPECIAL TEAMS: KYLE BRINDZA The senior kicker bounced back from an uncharacteristically tough fourth quarter at Navy (two missed field goals) with a strong all-around performance at Arizona State. Four of his six kickoffs were touch- backs to help keep the Sun Devils deep in their territory; his four punts aver- aged 44.2 yards (no returns), with two of them downed inside the 20; and he opened the scoring with a 46-yard field goal, his lone attempt of the game (not including a fumbled snap while he was setting up for a 32-yard try). TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY LOU SOMOGYI Senior nickel back Matthias Farley was one of the few bright spots for the Notre Dame defense, inter- cepting a pass and returning it 27 yards to set up an Irish touchdown while also recording the team's lone sack. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA