Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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5 Touchdown passes tossed by sophomore quar- terback DeShone Kizer, a first by a Notre Dame signal-caller since Tommy Rees did the same during a 59-33 victory versus Air Force on Oct. 26, 2013. It was the seventh time overall a Fighting Irish quar- terback tossed five scoring passes, the first coming in 2005 by Brady Quinn versus Michigan State. The single-game school record is six by Quinn against BYU that same year. 7 This was the first time in seven meetings be- tween Notre Dame and Pitt since 2008 that the game was decided by more than seven points. In the previous six, each won three games, including one apiece in multiple overtimes, while Pitt had a 146-143 edge in points. 28 Career touchdown receptions by junior wide receiver Will Fuller after catching three at Pitt. That moved him past Jeff Samardzija (27) and Golden Tate (26) into second place on Notre Dame's all-time list. Only Michael Floyd with 37 from 2008-11 is ahead of him. Eight of Fuller's 12 touchdowns this season have covered at least 30 yards. 68 Plays run by Notre Dame, 42 rushing and 26 passing. Pitt entered the game No. 1 in the country in fewest plays allowed per game with a 58.8 figure. 147 Yards rushing by freshman Josh Adams on 20 carries. His ground total was one yard short of tying Jerome Heavens' Irish freshman record of 148 yards on 18 carries in a 24-3 victory versus Georgia Tech on Nov. 8, 1975. 163 Consecutive passes thrown by Pitt quarterback Nate Peterman through six games without tossing an interception — until fifth-year senior safety MATTHIAS FARLEY picked one off at the Irish 1-yard line late in the first half to keep Notre Dame ahead 14-3. 437 Yards of total offense by Notre Dame at Pitt, the ninth straight game during its 8-1 start in which it eclipsed the 400-yard mark. The total against the Panthers tied the total offense figure in the 24-22 loss at Clemson Oct. 3 as the lowest so far this season. The nine straight 400-yard efforts to begin the season might be a first at the school. Fifth-year senior safety Matthias Farley thwarted a second-quarter Pitt scoring drive with an interception at the goal line — the first pick in 163 pass attempts by Panthers QB Nate Peterman. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA