Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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OFFENSE: TAREAN FOLSTON Held to 35 yards on seven carries when the Irish trailed 17-6 at halftime, the sophomore running back supplied some much needed balance and a run- ning threat to the Irish arsenal in the second half when they scored all three of their touchdowns. After the intermission, Folston had 11 carries that netted 99 yards for a final total of 134 yards on 18 attempts. He bounced outside effectively on sev- eral runs, timed cutbacks well on oth- ers, made play-action more effective and was left in with more confidence on his pass blocking. DEFENSE: COLE LUKE Matched most of the game against Louisville's game-breaking wide re- ceiver and potential first-round selec- tion DeVante Parker, the Irish sopho- more cornerback acquitted himself well. Three times he was challenged on a deep ball to Parker, and twice he broke up the pass while the third fell incomplete. A miscommunication on defense led to Parker's lone touchdown when Luke was not covering him. Other- wise, Parker's other three catches to- taled only 44 yards. SPECIAL TEAMS: GREG BRYANT Anytime a Notre Dame punt re- turn the past five years goes beyond five yards, it generates a buzz. The sophomore running back electrified the crowd with a 61-yard punt return early in the third quarter that set up a three-yard touchdown drive and a temporary go-ahead score (20-17). The yardage on that return was more than in Notre Dame's previous nine games combined (15 attempts for 55 yards). It also was the longest since Golden Tate's 87-yard touchdown in a 27-22 loss at Pitt in 2009. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY TOM LOY Sophomore running back Greg Bryant's 61-yard punt return — the longest during head coach Brian Kelly's five-year tenure at Notre Dame — in the third quarter set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Irish. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA