Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/878660
26 OCT. 2, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TURNING POINT With Notre Dame leading 21‑7 and 6:21 remaining in the first half, Michigan State running back LJ Scott broke through the middle and was headed toward a 15‑yard touchdown run — but Irish junior cornerback Shaun Crawford met him at the 1‑yard line and punched out the football. Scott almost fell on it in the end zone, but when he was unable to secure it Crawford hustled to pounce on it for a touch‑ back. Notre Dame then responded with a quick 80‑yard march capped by junior running back Dexter Wil‑ liams' 14‑yard scoring run. In a span of 1:34, the game went from Michigan State potentially cutting its deficit to 21‑14 to the Irish ex‑ tending their cushion to 28‑7, and that was for all intents and pur‑ poses the ballgame. STAT OF THE GAME Michigan State committed three turnovers — all in the first half — while Notre Dame had none. More significant was that the Fighting Irish turned the miscues into 21 points — the difference in their 28‑7 halftime advantage. It began with sophomore corner‑ back Julian Love returning an inter‑ ception for a 59‑yard touchdown to make it 14‑0 less than five minutes into the contest. A forced fumble by senior line‑ backer Greer Martini on scrambling quarterback Brian Lewerke that sophomore drop end Daelin Hayes recovered set up a 24‑yard touchdown drive to make it 21‑7. Then Spartans running back LJ Scott fumbled into the end zone, and junior corner Shaun Crawford recov‑ ered it for a touchback, which resulted in another Irish touchdown march. 2017 IRISH HAVE LOOK OF 2015 In 2015, Notre Dame finished the regular season 10‑2, with two heart‑ breaking two‑point losses in the closing seconds against two teams (Clemson and Stanford) that would finish No. 2 and No. 3 in the country. The 2017 Fighting Irish likewise have the look of a team that is ca‑ pable of winning 10 games after their 3‑1 start, with the lone defeat coming by one point (20‑19) against a Geor‑ gia unit that has the makings to be a viable national title contender. The Irish have dominated the teams they were projected to de‑ feat — Temple, Boston College and Michigan State — the latter two on the road, winning each by at least 20 points. The next test is winning a close one, where they are 1‑8 in the last nine one‑score games. That might not occur until the USC game at home Oct. 21. THREE OBSERVATIONS BY LOU SOMOGYI OFFENSE: QB BRANDON WIMBUSH In Notre Dame's 49‑20 win over Boston College the previous week, the junior quarterback made an impact on the ground (207 yards), but his 11‑of‑24 performance for 96 yards as a passer left much to be desired and drew criticism from some in the national media for his inability to make plays with his arm. Wimbush quickly silenced his critics against Michigan State, com‑ pleting 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards before capping Notre Dame's open‑ ing drive off with a 16‑yard touchdown run. He finished the game 14‑of‑20 passing for 173 yards with a score, plus 52 yards and a touch‑ down on the ground, and he was at his sharpest when it mattered. Notre Dame converted eight of its 14 third‑down chances, and Wimbush was a primary factor. He connected on 5 of 6 throws on third down, with all five completions moving the chains. DEFENSE: CB SHAUN CRAWFORD There might have been other defenders that had better beginning to end performances, but no defender made a bigger play than the junior cornerback. Notre Dame held a 21‑7 lead in the second quarter, but Michigan State was in the midst of a nine‑play, 75‑yard scoring drive. Spartans running back LJ Scott broke through the Irish front and was on the verge of scoring, but Crawford stripped the football out of his hands just inches away from the goal line and then recovered the loose ball in the end zone. He also finished the game with four tackles. SPECIAL TEAMS: P TYLER NEWSOME Michigan State moved the ball relatively well against the Notre Dame defense, but the Spartans were constantly starting deep in their own territory, which made it easier for the Irish defense to keep the points down. The senior punter played a key role in that, placing three of his four punts inside the 20‑yard line. TOP PLAYERS OF THE GAME BY BRYAN DRISKELL Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown, and also rushed for 52 yards and a score. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA