Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2 Points by Northwestern on an Irish extra point attempt to close its gap to 13-9 instead of trailing 14-7. It was the first time a team returned a blocked point after try for a score against Notre Dame since Tulsa on Oct. 30, 2010, when it proved to be the dif- ference in a 28-27 win by the Golden Hurricane. 13 Consecutive games Notre Dame has in- tercepted at least one pass, the second longest current streak in the Football Bowl Subdivi- sion, behind 15 by Ole Miss. Both senior nickel Mat- thias Farley and sophomore cornerback COLE LUKE picked off their team-high fourth passes this season versus the Wildcats. It is the longest such streak at Notre Dame since 20 straight games in 2001-02. 19 Years between Pat Fitzgerald winning at Notre Dame Stadium in 1995 (17-15) en route to becoming a consensus All-American line- backer and then winning as the head coach of this year's Wildcats. The last time Northwestern won consecutive meetings versus the Irish was the four in a row under Wildcats head coach Ara Parseghian from 1959-62, before he took the Notre Dame posi- tion. 29 The game-time temperature at kickoff, mak- ing it the fourth coldest game at Notre Dame since 1990. The top three were Navy in 1991 (24), BYU in 2013 (26) and Syracuse in 2008 (27). BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI What Worked • Everett Golson keeping on the zone read. We've often said if Golson could just execute this play at least one time per quarter, it could open up many elements of the offense. He also kept two other times early for a lot less yardage, but it helped the Irish offense be relatively productive and balanced. • Sophomore Surge. All the best games seemed to be played by the sophomores, including wide receiver Will Fuller (nine receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns) and running back Tarean Folston (106 yards rushing and one touchdown) on offense, and lineman Isaac Rochell (nine tack- les, two stops for loss and two deflections), Jaylon Smith (10 tackles, a forced fumble and a QB hurry), and cornerback Cole Luke (seven tackles, one forced fumble and one interception) on defense. That's why in part the Irish have been considered "a year away." What Didn't Work • Run out of town. Would you believe that Northwestern finished with minus-nine yards on the ground a week earlier in its 10-9 loss to Michi- gan, whose defense has been fairly average? That same Wildcats team put up 263 yards rushing at Notre Dame. Senior Mike linebacker Joe Schmidt is greatly missed … but the disparity can't be that pro- nounced, although the front seven attrition has caught up with the Irish. • No kick to special teams. Senior Kyle Brindza was the one strength on special teams the past three years, but had his roughest contest at Notre Dame — 0 of 2 on field goals, 17- and 26-yard punts, and a blocked point after attempt returned for two points by Northwestern. A change in hold- ers might have become more dramatic than ex- pected. • Brian Kelly's explanations. Going for two points at 40-29 had no logic at all. Kelly said kick- ing woes played a part, but the Irish had made the previous three point after tries. He also said he did not think about taking a cou- ple of knees at the end to milk the clock. Sideline leadership was lacking in this game. — Lou Somogyi TAKING A CLOSER LOOK