Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/869474
26 SEPT. 11, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TURNING POINT After falling behind 28-3 in the game's first 19 minutes, Temple had one sequence when it could have made the game interesting. That was when fifth-year senior cornerback Mike Jones intercepted a pass by junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush and returned it 43 yards to the Notre Dame 14 with 6:47 left in the third quarter and the Irish up 28-10. A touchdown there and the momentum shifts — and the Fighting Irish were notorious for late-game collapses in 2016. Instead, the defense responded with a third straight three-and-out, highlighted by a 10-yard sack by ju- nior linebacker Te'von Coney when the Owls had third-and-five at the 9-yard line. Temple then missed a 36-yard field goal, and Notre Dame responded with an 80-yard touch- down drive — aided by an over- turned fumble call on Tony Jones Jr. in Temple territory — to salt away the game. STAT(S) OF THE GAME It's difficult to choose only one. The 422 rushing yards were the sec- ond most in the Brian Kelly era, the 9.6 yards per carry was the highest single-game average since 1942, and three Notre Dame backfield mem- bers surpassed 100 rushing yards, which is believed to be a first in school history. However, given that one of the most consistent criticisms through- out Kelly's eight seasons has been red-zone inefficiency on offense, the fact that Notre Dame scored touch- downs on all six of its opportunities — three in the first half and three in the second half — inside Temple's 20-yard line was vital to helping as- sert dominance early and then keep the Owls at bay the rest of the game. The tight ends were especially utilized well near the goal line as blockers and receivers, including a leaping touchdown catch in traffic by senior Nic Weishar for a 12-yard tally. GEORGIA ON MY MIND In the two regular seasons of eighth-year head coach Brian Kel- ly's career at Notre Dame when it averaged 200-plus rushing yards per game, the Irish were 22-2. It's no secret that the veteran offensive line and a running back corps that Kelly proclaimed had three poten- tial future NFL prospects would be the strength of the 2017 edition, and the 422-yard rushing output against a rebuilding Temple defense was a promising start. Yet even the 2012 unit that opened with 293 rushing yards against Navy had only 52 the next week against a tough Purdue front in a 20-17 win. After a 457-yard rushing output versus UMass in 2015, the next week Notre Dame managed only 116 in a loss at much tougher Clemson. Georgia has one of the nation's more experienced defenses, and an ability to produce against such a unit will be far more telling. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY LOU SOMOGYI OFFENSE: RB JOSH ADAMS The junior running back was awarded the game ball following Notre Dame's 49-16 win over Temple, and for good reason. The Warrington, Pa., native racked up 161 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Adams' 37-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game gave Notre Dame an early 7-0 lead. He then scampered for 60 yards to set up another touchdown that put the Irish up 21-3 late in the first quarter. With Notre Dame up big, Adams carried the ball just twice in the fourth quar- ter, which prevented him from having an even bigger game. DEFENSE: DE JAY HAYES The senior end was a major factor in Notre Dame's strong defensive perfor- mance against Temple. The Irish were especially stout against the run, hold- ing junior running back Ryquell Armstead to just 67 yards on 19 attempts. Hayes was physical at the point of attack and got very good movement when Temple tried to run in his direction, which threw off the timing of the ground game. He contributed five stops of his own, including a tackle for loss, and he had an early pressure that forced redshirt sophomore quarterback Logan Marchi out of the pocket and into the arms of sopho- more end Daelin Hayes. SPECIAL TEAMS: CB JULIAN LOVE AND RB TONY JONES JR. With one exception — a 30-yard kick return late in the third quarter — the Notre Dame coverage units played well in the win over Temple. The Irish special teams constantly put the Owls inside its own 30-yard line, and both freshman running back Tony Jones Jr. and sophomore corner- back Julian Love played a huge role. Jones led the special teams with three tackles and Love added two stops, including an excellent open-field tackle of fifth-year senior punt returner Mike Jones for no gain. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY BRYAN DRISKELL Senior defensive end Jay Hayes contributed five tackles, including one for loss, while helping the Irish shut down the Temple rushing attack. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA