Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/424772
OFFENSE: MALIK ZAIRE With 5:09 remaining in the first half and the Irish trailing 35-0 after six failed possessions on offense, the sophomore quarterback was inserted for the first time that didn't involve mop-up duty. In his first three plays, he handed off on a zone read, completed his first career throw for a 49-yard gain to junior Chris Brown and then kept on a read option for an 11-yard touchdown scamper. He will need to develop a touch to his passes, but his nine completions totaled 170 yards, and at least two perfectly drilled passes were dropped. He added 18 yards rushing and is more at ease with the read option than senior Everett Golson. DEFENSE: JAYLON SMITH Named one of five finalists for the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) earlier in the week, the sophomore tied his career high for tackles with 14, set earlier in the year in the 17-14 win versus Stanford. It brought his season total to a team-high 103. His sack of quarterback Cody Kessler on USC's first series ended the Trojans' scoring threat, and later he also broke up a pass. SPECIAL TEAMS: KYLE BRINDZA While the kicking woes continued for the record-breaking senior with a missed 44-yard yard field goal attempt, all three of his kickoffs were touchbacks and none of his five punts (40.0-yard average) were returned for any yardage either. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY TOM LOY Sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith equaled his career high with 14 tackles against the Trojans, plus notched one sack and broke up one pass. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA