Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/744639
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 7, 2016 23 BY MATT JONES W hen Notre Dame junior linebacker Nyles Morgan brought down Miami ju- nior quarterback Brad Kaaya on the game's final play to seal a 30-27 Irish win, it meant one thing to head coach Brian Kelly. "It just meant that we're not going to have to go through this again," Kelly said. The seventh-year coach was referring to the repeated questions about the mo- rale of the team and the direction of the program during a disappointing year for what was a preseason top-10 team. While most of Notre Dame's vic- tory over a sinking Miami team was far from pretty, the Irish were able to halt their two-game losing streak of their own and a six-game skid in games decided by one possession. The win moved Notre Dame's record to 3-5, keeping its bowl hopes alive. "I feel like that whole stadium's off my back. I'll tell you that," junior quarterback DeShone Kizer said. It took some lucky bounces, a gutsy effort by Kizer and a dominant effort by fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jarron Jones to oust the Hurricanes. And while the contest ended in Notre Dame's favor, the game did not appear it would for most of the second half. Notre Dame led 20-0, but like many times this season, it let the opposition off the hook. Miami mounted a major comeback and took a 27-20 lead with 6:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. The go-ahead score came on a muffed punt return by sophomore wide receiver C.J. Sanders, which was recovered in the end zone by Miami. But unlike previous games this year, Notre Dame didn't flinch when things went wrong. Kizer led Notre Dame on a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game with 5:53 left, capped with a 41-yard scoring run by sopho- more running back Josh Adams. Kizer finished the game 25-of- 38 passing for 263 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 31 yards. "I am really, really pleased with some of the play within the play," Kelly said of Kizer. "For me, my eye is focused on rhythm, timing, getting the ball out of your hand, and he was the best since he's been here in get- ting the ball out of his hands." With the game tied, Notre Dame forced a Miami punt and used a 23- yard return by sophomore wide re- ceiver Chris Finke to get into scoring position. Facing a third-and-three from the 7-yard line, Kizer found se- nior tight end Durham Smythe for a short gain. Smythe, who had enough for the first down, dove for the end zone and fumbled on a hit by Miami sophomore linebacker Charles Perry. Several attempts by Miami to recover were unsuccessful, and ultimately it was Kizer who came out with the ball. Four plays later, sophomore kicker Jus- tin Yoon hit a 23-yard field goal to give the Irish the lead with 30 seconds left. Miami's final drive went just 16 yards and ended when time expired after Morgan sacked Kaaya for a six-yard loss on third-and-two near midfield, preserving an improbable victory for the Irish. "I just missed the feeling of win- ning," Kizer said. "It was some- where we want to be for the rest of the season." Notre Dame limited Miami (4-4) to 306 yards and Kaaya to 26-of-42 pass- Decisive Comeback After blowing a 20-point lead, Notre Dame rebounds with a late rally to defeat Miami 30-27 Fifth-year senior nose guard Jarron Jones led the way for a strong defensive performance for the Irish with six tackles for loss, including one of Notre Dame's five sacks. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA