Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/87622
ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI Sophomore Stephon Tuitt and the Irish defensive line never let Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes settle in during Notre Dame's 20-13 overtime win. most, as a power running team, it entered the contest only 70th nationally in rushing offense (155.80 yards per game). The Cardinal came close to that figure against the Irish with 147 yards on the ground, but was unable to penetrate the Notre Dame wall on first-and-goal from the 4-yard line in overtime, with the last two plays coming from the 1. Cardinal running back Stepfan Taylor is an amaz- STANFORD RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Although Stanford prides itself, first and fore- PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA safety Matthias Farley return an interception 49 yards to set up Norte Dame's lone score, a field goal, in the first half. It didn't improve much thereafter, with Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes averaging a meager 5.0 yards per attempt (12-of-25 passing for 125 yards). Anything less than 6.0 is excellent for a defense. The Irish seldom rushed more than four, and even ingly tough customer, but his 28 carries only netted a hard earned 102 yards — merely 3.6 yards per carry — with none totaling more than 13 yards. Advantage: Notre Dame two third-down passes that could have been first downs, 2) threw an interception from the Irish 20, on third-and-three, to junior cornerback Bennett Jackson at the 1-yard line, and 3) saw sophomore STANFORD PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE In the first quarter alone, the Cardinal 1) dropped had sophomore linebacker/end Ishaq Williams on some occasions playing in the second level to help bracket hook-and-curl patterns. Especially notable is 6-8 tight end Levine Toilolo, who caught five passes for 141 yards the previous week in the victory versus Arizona, had zero receptions. Advantage: Notre Dame tion's No. 6-ranked run defense (77.20 yards allowed per game). The Irish nearly doubled that output with 150 yards. Seniors Cierre Wood (12 carries for 66 yards) and Theo Riddick (12 carries for 45 yards), plus sophomore George Atkinson III (three carries NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. STANFORD RUN DEFENSE Notre Dame had a quality effort against the na-