Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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happen today, and that's what I'm most upset about." Butler finished the game with two tackles and two passes broken up, in- cluding one on Strong in the end zone. "He competed today," Kelly said. "He got matched up with Strong a couple of times, and I thought he did a nice job. There are things that we need him to do better.. "He hasn't played a ton, but I like the way he competed out there. He'll get more snaps, and he'll get better." Morgan finished with four tackles in his first career start and handled the bulk of Notre Dame's communication responsibilities on defense. "I'm happy for Nyles," junior defen- sive lineman Sheldon Day said. "He played with confidence and led the defense like Joe does. "He had a good week of practice and a good week communicating. We expected it out of him." Both players helped the Irish hold Arizona State scoreless on its first five possessions of the second half when Notre Dame narrowed a 31-point defi- cit to 34-31. "I think by and large he did a nice job of communicating and getting us the information that we needed," Kelly said. "He was wide-eyed, but we had good communication with him • Sophomore tight end Durham Smythe be- came the 11th receiver senior quarterback Ever- ett Golson has connected with this season when he caught a seven-yard pass on Notre Dame's first drive of the game. The grab marked the first of Smythe's career. • Sophomore linebacker Doug Randolph aban- doned his usual uniform No. 44, instead donning No. 26 in honor of a friend who passed away during the week. • Senior safety Eilar Hardy not only traveled for the first time since the academic dishonesty investigation kept him off the field through the season's first half, but he also played. Hardy con- tributed on the punt return, kickoff return and kickoff coverage units. • Fifth-year senior safety Austin Collinsworth made the trip despite battling an injured shoul- der (labrum). He dressed for the game and warmed up with Notre Dame's backups, but did not see any action. • The 17 points Notre Dame gave up in the first quarter were the most the Irish have allowed in the opening period since giving up the same number in a come-from-behind 40-37 victory against Michigan State on Sept. 23, 2006. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES BIG PLAYS (25 YARDS OR MORE) Arizona State • 1-10 ND43 Kelly pass complete to Smith for 43 yards and a touchdown] • 2-8 ND44 Kelly pass complete to Richard for 40 yards Notre Dame • 1-10 ND19 Golson pass complete to Prosise for 26 yards • 1-10 ND25 Golson pass complete to Prosise for 59 yards • 3-5 ASU49 Golson pass complete to Fuller for 44 yards • 1-10 ASU38 Golson pass complete to Carlisle for 32 yards • 1-10 ND15 Golson pass complete to Carlisle for 35 yards • 1-10 ND41 Golson pass complete to Brown for 34 yards • 1-10 ASU25 Golson pass complete to Carlisle for 25 yards and a touchdown