Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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OFFENSE: MALIK ZAIRE A strong case can be made for the offensive line's best physical perfor- mance over four quarters with a two- to-one run-pass ratio (51-26). How- ever, that was made possible in good part due to Zaire's threat with the read option, which helped open up running lanes. During the first half in his first start, the sophomore quarterback threw for one score, ran for another and made the closing block — or at least ob- structed a defender — on the third. He rushed for a team-high 96 yards while keeping the passing game safe and ef- ficient, completing 12 of 15 tosses for 96 yards with no interceptions. DEFENSE: SHELDON DAY AND ISAAC ROCHELL LSU did rush for 285 yards while averaging 7.5 yards per carry (5.3 without Leonard Fournette's 89-yard score), but these two interior linemen held up against the ultra-physical LSU attack. Day especially battled back from an MCL sprain in Novem- ber. The junior Day recovered a fumble near midfield, and his presence was a godsend. The sophomore Rochell had a QB hurry and blocked LSU's fourth-quarter field goal attempt. SPECIAL TEAMS: KYLE BRINDZA The record-breaking senior kicker/ punter had a nightmare November, but similar to previous record-hold- ing Irish kicker John Carney — who missed several key field goals in 1986 before hitting the game-winner at USC as time expired in his final game — he went out fittingly with the 32- yard field goal as time elapsed. Brindza also placed three of his four punts inside the 20 (two near the 10) and his last three kickoffs went out of the end zone, thus not allow- ing Fournette a crack at bringing an- other one back for a score. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY LOU SOMOGYI Sophomore defensive lineman Isaac Rochell (90) blocked an LSU field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter to keep the score tied at 28. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA