Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 24, 2014 Issue

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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keeper on a zone read for a 61-yard touchdown in the game's first minute was evidence of just how much that play was missing in the arsenal. Golson has been reluctant to keep it, and the defense so overplayed the fake to the running back that Golson had wide-open space. Sophomore Tarean Folston was back in form at running back with 106 yards and 5.3 yards per carry, but lost fumbles by Golson off another zone read in the red zone, by junior wide receiver Chris Brown at the goal line for a touchback and senior running back Cam McDaniel while trying to run out the clock proved too much to overcome, and nullified the 211 yards rushing overall and 5.3 yards per carry. ADVANTAGE: Even NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. NORTHWESTERN PASS DEFENSE It was not Golson's sharpest day as a passer (21 of 40, 287 yards), including an interception, which deflected off the helmet of fifth-year senior right tackle Christian Lombard, that set up a Northwestern touchdown. But there were no sacks, and sopho- more Will Fuller was outstanding with three scoring receptions among his 159 receiving yards. The Irish were productive overall through the air, but the turnovers on running plays proved to be devastating. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Who could have imagined that Luke Massa not returning for a fifth year as a holder could wreak such havoc on special teams? Head coach Brian Kelly made the change in holders from junior Hunter Smith (three dropped snaps) to sophomore Malik Zaire, and the timing and chemistry appeared awry, with senior Kyle Brindza missing both field goals (38 and 42 yards, the latter in overtime) and seeing a blocked extra point off a mishandled snap turn into a two-point return for the Wildcats that proved pivotal. That might have played a role in going for a failed two at 40-29 instead of a "safe" extra point and a 12-point advantage. Brindza also had 26- and 17-yard punts. Meanwhile, Northwestern's Jack Mitchell converted 4 of 5 field goal attempts, three beyond 40 yards, highlighted by the 41-yard clincher in overtime. ADVANTAGE: Northwestern THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS Both teams did fairly well, with Notre Dame 7 of 14 (50.0 percent) and Northwestern 9 of 19 (47.4 percent). The Wildcats converted two third-and- shorts on their first TD drive and had a 45-yard run on third-and-nine on the second TD march, but were only 1 of 8 in the second half. The Irish returned a third-down Northwestern fumble for a score and also scored on a third-and- eight from the Wildcat 11. ADVANTAGE: Even TURNOVERS Each team had four turnovers. Notre Dame scored 13 points off of them, including fifth-year senior safety Austin Collinsworth's fumble return. North- western scored 10 points off turnovers, but forcing the McDaniel fumble at the Wildcats' 28 with 1:28 gave them life that helped put the game into over- time, where they won. ADVANTAGE: Even SUMMARY Northwestern refused to go away, and Notre Dame couldn't put the Wildcats away. This nearly hap- pened in Irish victories against North Carolina and Navy, too, and the Stanford victory came down to one clutch play. Even Purdue and Syracuse battled the Irish, but were not efficient enough on offense. Attrition has caught up with the Irish defense, but Northwestern deserved to win. Notre Dame's shaky special teams play also finally came back to haunt it again. The Irish sideline lead- ership let down the team in one of the two or three worst losses of the five-year Brian Kelly era. ✦ ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI

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