Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/87622
THREE OBSERVATIONS TURNING POINT BY LOU SOMOGYI facing third-and-18 at the Stanford 24, the situation was dire. Stanford's pass rush and blitzes had been harassing sophomore quarterback Everett Gol- son all afternoon. A field goal would make it only 10-6 — and the Irish had already flubbed a 27-yard field goal attempt on their last try because of an errant snap. It appeared Notre Dame would need a defensive or special teams touchdown if it were to win. Then came the needed turnaround: With Notre Dame trailing 10-3 and went for 76 yards, highlighted by his 24-yard scoring toss on third-and-18 to senior tight end Tyler Eifert. In place of the injured Golson, Rees completed all four of his attempts for 43 yards, with the seven-yard slant to junior wideout TJ Jones in over- time proving to be the game-winning touchdown. Like Golson to Eifert, Rees also came through in overtime with a clutch 16-yard completion un- der duress to junior Theo Riddick the play before the go-ahead score. Golson arched a high pass toward 6-6 tight end Tyler Eifert, who was double covered on the boundary side. Eifert leapt high between the two de- fenders right by the pylon and came down with what would be the tying touchdown with 14:15 left in regula- tion. The pass was perfectly placed where only Eifert could make the play, and the All-American lived up to his status. of the third quarter, Stanford's relent- less, overpowering pass rush had sophomore quarterback Everett Gol- son and the Irish offense flummoxed. Golson had completed only 8 of 20 pass attempts for 65 yards. From there, Golson and junior Throughout the first half and most TOP STAT(S) OF THE GAME Tommy Rees connected on their fi- nal eight passes in the game — with each completing four apiece — for 119 yards. Golson's four connections bid is now Notre Dame's to lose. With the pulsating victory against BCS BID THERE FOR THE TAKING A Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Stanford, the 6-0 Irish completed a 180-degree about-face at the halfway point of the season in regards to ex- pectations. Prior to the opener against Navy Sept. 1, a BCS bid appeared to be a pipe dream. Now, entering the second half of the season, it would now be a bitter disappointment to not make the BCS for the first time since 2006.The Stanford game was expected to be the tipping point because a 10-2 record is projected to get the Irish a BCS invite, whereas 9-3 would have eliminated Notre Dame. The Irish will still likely be the underdogs at Oklahoma (Oct. 27) and USC (Nov. 24), but as long as it doesn't get clipped in a major upset in its other four outings, it is sitting in a position of strength.