Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/878660
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 2, 2017 23 BY LOU SOMOGYI F amed American writer Mark Twain is often credited for popularizing the statement, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." Notre Dame's decisive 38-18 victory versus Michigan State in East Lansing provided more evidence of the latter. The Spartans outgained the Fighting Irish 496-355 and possessed the ball seven minutes more, but those num- bers nowhere reflected Notre Dame's far greater efficiency all around. Far and away the most relevant data from the game was Michigan State committed three turnovers that re- sulted in 21 Notre Dame points, while the Irish did not commit any turnovers. Within the game's first five minutes head coach Brian Kelly's team was up 14-0, highlighted by a 59-yard intercep- tion return for a score by sophomore cornerback Julian Love. Two more cru- cial Spartan turnovers in the first half resulted in Notre Dame touchdowns, and the Irish defense also made a fourth-quarter goal-line stand. "The story here is defensively we're taking the football away," Kelly said. "We hadn't been able to take the football away over the last few years. We're taking it away, and then we're opportunistic. "Rushing yardage doesn't really matter much. Passing yards don't matter much when you can take the football away, and they capitalize in the red zone on them. "Those are the real numbers when you get down to it, because they equal points and point differentials — and they equal winning football games." Junior quarterback Brandon Wim- bush reflected the efficiency of the Irish with a mainly conservative 14-of-20 passing effort for 173 yards and a touch- down. He also opened the scoring with a 16-yard draw on the opening posses- sion, while Notre Dame amassed 182 rushing yards for the game, with 52 by Wimbush on eight carries. "We can probably move on that he can't throw it," Kelly said of the criti- cism his quarterback had received regarding his passing acumen after his first three starts. "He's got the ability to do a lot from that position. "He's just growing. He hasn't ar- rived, but he did some really good things at the position that helped us become efficient on offense." "I thought I delivered the ball the way I know I could," Wimbush said of the Irish passing attack that entered the game ranked No. 124 among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. "They definitely made the plays. Even out of the backfield … Dexter Williams had a great catch in the end zone. "Shout out to my surrounding cast. They did a hell of a job making plays when their number was called." Here's the quarter-by-quarter syn- opsis: FIRST QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 14, MICHIGAN STATE 7 Top Moment: In the first 4:27, the Fighting Irish went ahead 14-0. First they took the game's opening series 78 yards in just seven plays, capped by Wimbush's 16-yard touchdown on a draw. He also completed 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards. On the ensuing series, Love read an out pass and timed his break per- fectly for a 59-yard interception re- turn for a touchdown. Top Performer: In addition to his touchdown, Wimbush completed 5 of 7 passes for 74 yards. Stats: Notre Dame had 102 yards of total offense, while the Spartans' 18 plays netted 100 yards. Items: Michigan State drove 75 yards and scored at the 6:33 mark on a four-yard pass from quarterback Brian Lewerke to wide receiver Dar- rell Stewart. A 52-yard "quarterback sneak" by Leweke on third-and-one set up the score. Senior rover Drue Tranquill recorded a 10-yard sack for the Irish on the third series. SECOND QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 28, MICHIGAN STATE 7 Top Moment: With Notre Dame leading 21-7 and 6:21 left, Michigan State running back LJ Scott headed for a 15-yard touchdown — but had the ball punched out by junior cor- nerback Shaun Crawford, who then also recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchback. Top Performer: Junior running back Dexter Williams scored both touchdowns in the quarter, the first from eight yards while straddling the sideline on a third-and-six pass from Wimbush with 9:32 left. Then at the 4:47 mark he tallied on a 14-yard sweep to the left side. Stats: Michigan State had 221 yards of total offense (121 rushing and 100 passing) to Notre Dame's 209 (99 rush- ing and 110 passing) in the first half. But the most significant number was the Spartans had three turnovers that led to 21 Irish points, while Notre Dame had no turnovers. Items: Irish senior linebacker Greer Martini forced a fumble by a scram- bling Lewerke that sophomore de- fensive end Daelin Hayes recovered at the MSU 24. Six plays later, Wil- liams caught the pass that put Notre Dame ahead 21-7. THIRD QUARTER: NOTRE DAME 35, MICHIGAN STATE 10 Top Moment: Sophomore running back Deon McIntosh scored his first ca- reer touchdown on a nine-yard sweep, giving Notre Dame a 35-10 advantage with 7:46 left. The drive was 62 yards. Top Performer: Sophomore wide re- ceiver Chase Claypool had two catches on the scoring march, highlighted by a leaping 27-yard catch along the side- line while keeping one foot in bounds. Stats: Michigan State had 97 yards of total offense in the quarter, while Notre Dame had 88, but the Irish still out- EFFICIENCY EXPERTS A 3-0 advantage in turnovers sparked Notre Dame's 38-18 victory at East Lansing Senior rover Drue Tranquill was credited with six tackles in the 38-18 win over Michigan State, highlighted by a 10-yard sack in the first half that stalled a drive. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA