Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/424772
USC RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE USC did not open the game firing passes down- field, but instead first softened up the injury-dec- imated Notre Dame front line. Its first series saw four runs for 24 yards by junior running back Ja- vorius Allen (19 carries for 93 yards) among its first six plays. On the opening touchdown drive, the Trojans set up the pass with three runs for 21 yards, and on the second scoring drive it ran four straight times for 20 yards before scoring on a pass. The fourth TD drive began with nine- and 11-yard scampers by sophomore running back Justin Davis (19 carries for 81 yards). There were no game-breaking runs — with the lon- gest gain 16 yards — but the methodical 205 yards rushing were consistent at opening up play-action passes versus the vulnerable Irish man coverage set up to stop run first. ADVANTAGE: USC USC PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE This was a pitch-and-catch clinic that seemed too easy, especially because USC established the run early to make the pass more lethal. Redshirt junior quarterback Cody Kessler completed 32 of 40 attempts for 372 yards to nine different targets, mostly intermediate routes to junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor (12 catches for 120 yards and one TD). Kessler let loose deep more often than he had most of the year, highlighted by 48- and 31-yard scoring tosses to redshirt junior wideout George Farmer. Other than sophomore middle linebacker Jaylon Smith's blitzes, the pass rush generally was not a factor, and Kessler usually stepped up calmly in the pocket or released the ball quickly against a depleted corps. ADVANTAGE: USC NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. USC RUN DEFENSE Sophomore running back Greg Bryant's (seven car- ries for 79 yards and one touchdown) had his finest game in a Notre Dame uniform, running north-south ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI Junior wide receiver Nelson Agholor led the way for a passing attack that distributed the ball to nine different receivers, hauling in 12 receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA