Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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freshman Tranquill to register his sec- ond career start. "It's what we saw last week, [the] cou- ple of weeks leading up to [the game]," Kelly explained. "Just looking to get more production at that position." But defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's group again lacked pro- duction from the secondary, allowing quarterback Trevor Siemian to compile a season-high 284 yards passing and a touchdown. Numerous Northwestern drops saved the Irish defense on several occasions as well. "They get better every week," Col- linsworth said of Notre Dame's young safeties. "They've got to keep getting better, I have to keep getting better, and we have to keep getting better as a de- fensive backfield if we want to win foot- ball games and finish this out with three victories. It's what we've got to do. "It's hard when you're young. You're trying to adjust to playing in games at a completely different speed. At the same time, the workload as far as learning the football game and learning the plays, it's a lot more. "Those guys for the most part have • Sophomore receiver Will Fuller caught three touchdown passes against the Wildcats, raising his season total to 13. He entered the weekend tied for fourth nationally with the 10 TD catches and is now tied for the national lead, along with Colorado State sophomore Rashard Higgins. The Rams had a bye Nov. 15. • Notre Dame now has a 5-9 all-time record in overtime games. The Irish won their last over- time contest, a 29-26 triple-overtime victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 3, 2012. • After intercepting Northwestern fifth-year senior quarterback Trevor Siemian, senior de- fensive back Matthias Farley and sophomore cornerback Cole Luke each have a team-best four interceptions this season. • Senior quarterback Everett Golson's 61-yard touchdown jaunt to start the day marked his eighth score on the ground this season. Only two Irish quarterbacks have ever scored more: Tony Rice in 1988 and Rick Mirer in 1991 each had nine. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES BIG PLAYS (25 YARDS OR MORE) Notre Dame • 1-10 ND39 Golson rush for 61 yards and a touchdown • 1-10 ND47 Golson pass complete to Fuller for 31 yards to the NU22 • 3-24 ND37 Golson pass complete to Prosise for 33 yards to the NU30 • 1-10 NU48 Golson pass complete to Fuller for 42 yards to the NU6 Northwestern • 1-10 50 Jackson rush for 44 yards to the ND6 • 3-9 NU26 Green rush for 45 yards to the ND29 • 3-8 NU27 Siemian pass complete to Dickerson for 60 yards to the ND13 • 2-7 NU41 Siemian pass complete to Prater for 29 yards to the ND30 PLAY CHART (NO. OF PLAYS) Yards ND NU (-) Yards 6 9 0-5 Yards 44 54 6-9 Yards 11 14 10-19 Yards 12 15 20-29 Yards 3 1 30-39 Yards 2 0 40-49 Yards 1 2 50 or more Yards 1 1