Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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believed they could execute in a very crucial situation in the game, and that's kind of how I called the game in that last series. "I really tried to fit it to what I be- lieved that they felt comfortable with." The Irish head coach did not want to make any big-picture determinations with his quarterbacks in this game, adding that he will spend January con- templating a possible quarterback con- troversy. It would be the fourth in six seasons for Notre Dame under Kelly. The Irish possessed the ball for nearly 20 of the game's first 24 minutes and headed into the locker room with a 21-14 lead. With LSU facing fourth- and-goal at the 2-yard line at the end of the half, the Tigers attempted a fake field goal. Holder Brad Kragthorpe was ruled down short of the end zone, which the officials controversially up- held after review. LSU running back Leonard Four- nette became the second freshman in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 143 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to eight- and 89-yard touchdown scampers, he also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score — the longest such play for the Tigers since 1981. While Fournette's long touchdown run gave the Tigers a 28-21 lead — their first advantage of the game — Notre Dame battled back to score on a 50-yard touchdown burst by junior slot receiver C.J. Prosise. Fittingly, senior kicker Kyle Brin- dza — Notre Dame's all-time leader in made field goals — was called upon in the final seconds to secure the win af- ter the standout's fall from grace dur- ing a dreadful November in which he missed six of nine field goal attempts, including a 32-yarder late in a 31-28 loss to Louisville Nov. 22. This time, his 32-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired, and Notre Dame topped an SEC foe for the first time since 2005. "I knew it was going to go in," Brin- dza said after the game. Before Brindza had that opportunity, the two quarterbacks combined on a 14-play, 71-yard drive over the final 5:41 of the game. Again, Kelly played to both of their strengths and denied LSU one final possession. In his starting debut, Zaire rushed 22 times for 96 yards and a score while connecting on 12 of 15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA