Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ON PAPER REVISITED tive in the second half than in the first half all season, and picked up 105 yards after the intermission ver- sus the Cardinal following a 45-yard first-half output. Advantage: Even for 21 yards) combined for 132 yards on 27 carries (4.9 yards per attempt). Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson also was utilized as a runner from the empty backfield formation and finished on the plus side with 41 yards — but his three lost fumbles (one standing in the pocket in the end zone for Stanford's lone touchdown) almost proved costly. The Irish running game has been much more effec- NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. STANFORD PASS DEFENSE It's difficult to give this edge to the Cardinal con- sidering that Golson and Tommy Rees combined to complete their last eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns to help save the day. However, Stanford's pass rush and myriad blitz packages — particularly off the edge — kept the Irish at bay for the better part of three and a half quarters. In addition to four sacks, Stanford was credited with nine hurries, three apiece by outside lineback- ers Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy. It also resulted in a Golson fumble in the end zone that Thomas recovered for a touchdown. Advantage: Stanford more defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt. An illegal block in the back by the Irish on a punt in the second quarter forced them to start at the 10. That set up Stanford's touchdown when Golson fumbled the ball in the end zone. On the ensuing kickoff, a holding penalty against Notre Dame forced it to start from its 13. Later on that drive, an errant Irish snap on a 28-yard field goal attempt resulted in no points. Stanford punter Daniel Zychlinski usually kept the SPECIAL TEAMS Stanford failed to tie the game 3-3 when sopho- Irish pinned deep with his 45.7-yard average — two were downed inside the 20. Notre Dame's trio of BY LOU SOMOGYI senior snapper Jordan Cowart, senior holder/punter Ben Turk and sophomore kicker Kyle Brindza came up huge on the 22-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to put the game into overtime. Advantage: Stanford ishing 7 of 16 and Stanford 6 of 16. It truly came down to making one more play in this department, and it might have been the most crucial one of the game. Trailing 10-3 and facing third-and-18 at the Stanford 24, Golson lofted a pass to the double- covered Tyler Eifert, who used all of his 6-6 frame and leaping ability to make the touchdown grab with 14:15 left to knot the game at 10. In overtime, a heavily pressured Rees hung up a THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS This was virtually identical, with Notre Dame fin- third-and-eight pass from the 23 to Riddick that re- sulted in a 16-yard gain, setting up the winning score on the ensuing play. The game was sealed when the Irish defense made the third-and-goal and fourth- and-goal stops from the 1. Advantage: Notre Dame tions, while Notre Dame's Golson lost three fumbles (one that led directly to a Stanford touchdown). Advantage: Stanford TURNOVERS Stanford's Nunes threw two first-quarter intercep- rally from two fourth-quarter deficits plus its clutch play on both offense and defense in overtime, par- ticularly the goal-line stand after Stanford had first- and-goal at the 4, was more validation of the mental and physical toughness this team has possessed throughout the campaign, especially when most needed. Head coach Brian Kelly labeled this all week as a full 15-round heavyweight bout, and the Irish with- stood enough body blows to score a TKO in the 16th round. ANALYSIS The 6-0 Irish had not trailed all season, so their