Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/897211
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 13, 2017 23 WAKE FOREST RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE For the second time this season Notre Dame saw an individual surpass 100 rushing yards when Matt Colburn II amassed 120 yards and 6.0 yard per carry (Boston College's Jon Hillman had 122 yards on 22 attempts Sept. 16). Quarter- backs John Wolford and Kendall Hinton were effective, too, with mostly draws, picking up 98 yards also at about six yards per clip. The 239 yards gained by Wake Forest were more than what North Carolina (86), USC (76) and North Carolina State (50) had combined for in the three previous games. Once it found a rhythm, the quick-paced run-pass options (RPO) executed by savvy senior Wolford had the Irish defense on their heels in the second half. ADVANTAGE: Wake Forest WAKE FOREST PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE The bread-and-butter for the Demon Deacons was the inside slants off the aforementioned RPO plays. Wolford came into the game ranked seventh na- tionally in passing efficiency and demonstrated why with the way he threaded the needle on many passes, but he also was aided by some fine catches in tight coverage. With star wideout Greg Dortch sidelined because of an injury, Wolford (28-of-45 passing for 331 yards with two touchdowns and an interception) did an excellent job of spreading the wealth. Junior Alex Bachman entered the game with only four catches for 74 yards, but against the Irish he snared eight passes for 116 yards and a score. The tight ends also were well utilized, with seven receptions for 64 yards and a score while keeping the chains moving. ADVANTAGE: Wake Forest NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. WAKE FOREST RUN DEFENSE Minus junior stalwart Josh Adams, Notre Dame still had six different players rush for at least 33 yards, led by junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush's 110, most notably a 50-yard draw for a score. The 46 attempts averaged 8.3 yards, and for the seventh time this season the Irish exceeded 300 yards (380) on the ground. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. WAKE FOREST PASS DEFENSE Wimbush shattered his previous career high passing total (210 yards versus Georgia Sept. 9) with 280, while averaging 18.7 yards per completion and 9.3 yards per attempt. The Irish repeatedly went vertical in the second half and left at least 100 receiving yards on the field with some missed opportunities on deep balls. Sophomore Chase Claypool (nine catches for 180 yards and one touchdown) continues his ascent, but the overall wideout corps needs to help Wimbush more in terms of fighting for the ball and finishing with the catch. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Nothing in the game was wasted more than Wake Forest punter Dom Mag- gio's 57-yard boot that was downed at the Notre Dame 1-yard line with 3:09 left until halftime. The Irish then drove 99 yards to make it 31-10. After the Demon Deacons went ahead 3-0, junior C.J. Sanders returned the kickoff 52 yards to set up what would be the go-ahead score for good. The next Wake Forest kickoff went out of bounds to help set up another Notre Dame touchdown drive. Junior Justin Yoon converted two of his three field attempts compared to one of two by Wake Forest's Mike Weaver. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS Both teams performed well with Notre Dame finishing 8 of 16 (50.0 percent) — but failing on a fourth-and-two — while Wake Forest was 6 of 14 (42.9 per- cent) and converted its lone fourth-down attempt. However, there were two back-breaking third-and-long conversions that did in the Demon Deacons. The first was sophomore Deon McIntosh's 45-yard run on third-and-nine from the Irish 26 that led to Notre Dame's 31-10 lead 22 seconds before halftime. The second was after Wake Forest cut the lead to 34-16, Notre Dame faced third-and-10 at its 22, and Wimbush found Claypool for a 44-yard gain to help make it 41-16 a play later. On two other touchdown drives, Wimbush's footwork was vital with a six- yard touchdown run on third-and-three and a five-yard gain on third-and-three. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame TURNOVERS North Carolina State came in a week earlier ranked No. 1 in fewest turnovers with three — yet ND not only won the turnover battle 1-0, but an interception by sophomore cornerback Julian Love was returned for a 69-yard touchdown. This week, Wake Forest was tied for second nationally in fewest turnovers (five) — and again the Irish won 1-0. This time a Love interception was returned 25 yards to set up a five-yard scoring drive. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame ANALYSIS Notre Dame had far more complete control of the game than the 48-37 final score indicated. It was 31-10 at halftime and 48-23 with 11:39 left in the contest, and a Demon Deacons window dressing touchdown was put up in the final minute. To its credit, Wake Forest didn't wilt and took advantage of an Irish defense that wasn't as sharp or locked in as it was the first eight games. The Notre Dame offense remains a consistent juggernaut that can compensate for off days elsewhere. On the road at 8-0 Miami the next week, the defense likely will assert itself much more after this performance. ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI The Irish had six different players rush for at least 33 yards, including junior running back Dexter Williams. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA