Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 18, 2017 23 BY LOU SOMOGYI T he year is different, but the script remained too familiar. After losing five games last season in which it held a fourth-quarter lead (and a sixth when it was tied), No. 24 Notre Dame's in- ability to finish continued in a 20-19 defeat versus No. 15 Georgia. A stout, sound and physically punishing defensive effort from both teams saw the Bulldogs take control when most needed in the final 10 minutes in front of a capacity audi- ence of 77,622 — about one-third of them (at least) boisterous Georgia followers — in Notre Dame Stadium. Fighting Irish junior kicker Justin Yoon converted all four of his field goal attempts, the last from 28 yards to give Notre Dame its final lead at 19-17 with 10:21 remaining in the contest. However, Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship's 30-yard field goal with 3:34 left provided the Bulldogs the advantage for good, and then the fierce and supremely quick Georgia defense withstood two opportunities by Notre Dame to make the game- winning march. Notre Dame also took possession with the 19-17 lead and 8:30 remaining, but the Bulldogs forced a three-and-out. It remained a familiar theme for Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly, who lauded the team's effort and grit. "They continue to do exactly what I ask them to do," Kelly said of his players. "The credit should go to Georgia today. … When they needed the big plays, they came up with them." The Irish ground attack that ac- cumulated 422 yards a week earlier against Temple was non-existent with only 55 yards, with 53 com- ing on 19 carries by junior Josh Ad- ams. The longest run among Notre Dame's 37 rushing plays (designed or otherwise) was eight yards. Junior quarterback Brandon Wim- bush completed 20 of 40 passes for 210 yards, but lost fumbles on two of the three sacks the Bulldogs re- corded. The second strip sack came at the Irish 25 with 1:27 left, and his 16 carries netted only one yard. Georgia's dominance on defense was best reflected by holding Notre Dame to 3 of 17 (17.6 percent) on third-down conversions. Notre Dame's defense put forth its own fine effort, limiting the Bulldogs to 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) on third down. "Our defense, other than a couple of missed fits on plays, was the type of defense that can continue to go out there week after week and give you the kind of effort necessary to win football games," Kelly said. FIRST QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 3, GEORGIA 3 Top Moment: After the Irish took a 3-0 lead at 12:48, Georgia sophomore Elijah Holyfield returned the kickoff inside Notre Dame's 10-yard line — but holding brought the ball back to the Bulldogs' 18. Top Performer: Notre Dame ju- nior safety Nick Coleman made a touchdown-saving tackle at midfield after a 30-yard run by senior running back Nick Chubb. The Bulldogs were limited to a field goal on that drive. On the next Georgia series, Cole- man knifed through to stop sopho- more wideout Mecole Hardman for no gain on third-and-two from the Bulldogs' 48. Stats: Georgia ran 15 plays for 91 yards, rushing eight times for 38 yards and completing 4 of 7 passes for 53 yards. Notre Dame's 16 plays netted 46 yards. The 10 rushes man- aged 12 yards, including a sack, and Wimbush was 3-of-6 passing for 34 yards. Items: Yoon converted his first field goal this year, from 39 yards, with 12:48 left, after a 53-yard drive on the initial possession. Blankenship matched that with a 27-yard field goal at 6:36 to cap a 70-yard march. SECOND QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 13, GEORGIA 10 Top Moment: With 6:45 left, Geor- gia junior wideout Terry Godwin made a spectacular one-handed catch on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line for a touchdown. It was originally ruled out of bounds, but the replay crew on the challenge determined he had one foot in. The score and extra point knotted the game at 10. Top Performer: Wimbush (9-of-16 passing for 114 yards in the first half) completed 32-yard passes to Adams and junior tight end Alizé Mack on two separate scoring drives, the for- mer ending with Wimbush's one- yard scoring run. Stats: Notre Dame had only 141 yards of total offense in the first half (114 passing and 27 rushing). Geor- gia wasn't much better with 155 (86 rushing and 69 passing). The Irish outgained the Bulldogs 95-64 in total offense during the second quarter. Despite a 2-0 advantage in turn- overs, Notre Dame led only by three at halftime because it was 0 of 8 on third-down attempts. Items: The game's initial turnover, a fumble by Georgian freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, resulted in a 32-yard touchdown drive by Notre Dame to move ahead 10-3 with 12:24 left on a one-yard run by Wimbush. Yoon's 42-yard field goal with 4:14 left put Notre Dame on top again, 13-10. Senior rover Drue Tranquill intercepted a pass by Fromm at his 47 with 26 seconds left, but the Irish were unable to capitalize. THIRD QUARTER: GEORGIA 17, NOTRE DAME 16 Top Moment: Georgia took the lead for the first time on a six-yard burst by senior running back Sony Michel, plus the extra point, with 4:34 remaining. The drive was aided by two personal foul calls on Notre Dame, most notably on third-and-16 from the Irish 19 by sophomore end New Season, Old Story In a defensive slugfest, Georgia hung on in the fourth quarter to eke out a 20-19 win Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush was under siege all night, with his 16 carries netting only one yard. He was sacked three times, and two of them resulted in lost fumbles. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL