Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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28 DECEMBER 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL SPECIAL TEAMS AND BIG PLAYS DOOM NOTRE DAME For much of the 2016 season, Notre Dame has paid dearly for special teams mistakes and the defense giv- ing up far too many big plays. Those trends proved especially costly against USC. Notre Dame's offense scored 27 points in the game, while the USC offense managed just 24 points. The total yardage was very similar, with Notre Dame picking up 408 yards (5.4 yards per play) to USC's 412 yards (6.1 yards per play). The difference in the game was USC's special teams and a costly mistake by the Notre Dame offense. With the Trojans leading 10-7 in the second quarter, junior return man Adoree' Jackson took a punt from Irish junior Tyler Newsome and returned it 55 yards for a score. Two plays later, Notre Dame junior quarterback DeShone Kizer tried to force a pass over the middle, but red- shirt sophomore cornerback Ajene Harris picked it off and returned it for a score. In a span of 17 seconds, the Trojans expanded their lead to 24-7. "Unfortunately, special teams was a huge deciding factor in the game," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said following his team's 45-27 loss. "We gave up to touchdowns to a very talented player, and we knew how talented he was going into the game. "The interception, any time you give scores to a very, very good offense like USC, you're going to pay for those mistakes. Obviously, those three scores put us at a huge disadvantage." Notre Dame tried to make a sec- ond half comeback, but once again was hindered by offensive and spe- cial teams mistakes. After USC jumped ahead 31-14, Kizer started Notre Dame's next pos- session with a 40-yard strike to soph- omore wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and capped the drive off with a 29-yard touchdown pass to freshman wideout Kevin Stepherson to cut the lead to 31-21. The Trojans quickly put any come- back hopes to rest, when Jackson re- turned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a score. It was his third score of the game, with each covering at least 52 yards. "I thought we could play with any- body this year," Kelly said. "We just have not been able to sustain consis- tent performance for four quarters. We have shown a propensity for some self-inflicted wounds, whether they be in special teams or offense or defense." Notre Dame's special teams have been especially prone to those mis- takes. Jackson's two returns marked the fourth and fifth touchdowns the Irish special units have allowed this season. JOSH ADAMS SHINES IN LOSS One of the brightest spots for Notre Dame was the play of soph- omore running back Josh Adams, who set a career high with 180 yards against the Trojans. USC GAME NOTES BY BRYAN DRISKELL Sophomore running back Josh Adams was a bright spot for the Irish against the Trojans, rushing for a career-best 180 yards on 17 carries. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • Despite the loss, Notre Dame still holds a 46-36-5 edge in the series with the Trojans. • Notre Dame's matchup against USC was just its third true road game of the season, and the Irish lost all three matchups (Texas, North Carolina State and USC). It marks the fourth straight true road game Notre Dame has lost, dating back to Nov. 28, 2015, when the Irish fell to Stanford. • Referee Ron Cherry left the game with just more than four and a half minutes to go in the third quarter after an accidental collision with USC senior linebacker Michael Hutchings. He was replaced in his duties by center judge Tom McCreesh. Following the game it was reported that Cherry was set to be released from a local hospital after being evaluated for a concussion. • Junior nose guard Daniel Cage missed his fourth straight game with a concussion. • After giving up 207 yards to the Trojans, the Notre Dame run defense finished the season surrendering 182.4 rushing yards per game. It marked the highest total allowed by an Irish defense since giving up 195.2 yards per game during the 3-9 season in 2007. • The crowd of 72,402 was the smallest for a USC-Notre Dame matchup in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1986.