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✦ NEWS & NOTES BY LOU SOMOGYI IRISH TRY TO TAKE THE OFFENSIVE The easy advertisement for Saturday's contest between 4-1 Miami and 4-0 and No. 9-ranked Notre Dame is it will be a showdown between the immovable object versus the irresistible force. Notre Dame's scoring defense (9.0 points allowed per game) ranks third na- tionally, while Miami junior quarterback Stephen Morris has thrown for 1,002 yards in his past two games — dramatic ACC victories against Georgia Tech (42-36 in overtime) and North Carolina State (44-37). The last pass he threw was a 62- yard touchdown to sophomore wide re- ceiver Phillip Dorsett to beat the Wolfpack with 19 seconds remaining. As a freshman in the 2010 Sun Bowl, Morris replaced a turnover-prone Jacory Harris after Notre Dame had built a 27-3 halftime lead, and ended up completing 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards with a pair of touchdowns and one pick in the 33-17 Irish victory. "He showed some signs, but looked like a young player at the time," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly recalled. "He looks like more of a veteran quarterback now. He's made big plays for them." Miami is averaging 35.6 points per game so far this season, which presents a new challenge to Notre Dame and its of- fense. The Irish currently rank anywhere from 76th to 95th in the four major of- fensive categories. Other than the 50-point outburst against Navy in the opener, they have had problems scoring in their last seven contests. Notre Dame closed 2011 with 16, 14 and 14 points in the last three games (with one of the touchdowns coming on a fum- ble return). In its last three contests this year, it won by scores of 20-17, 20-3 and 13-6. The Irish are easing sophomore quarterback Everett Golson into his role in an effort to limit mistakes, but will likely attempt to take advantage of a Miami secondary that has allowed 17.2 yards per completion. ✦ PAGE 11 PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA