Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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vada on Sept. 5, 2009. It was the first game at Notre Dame for freshman linebacker Manti Te'o. Somehow, it seemed appropriate that his last game — with a much-improved defense — also ended with the Irish recording the goose egg. BY THE NUMBERS 0 this season. Since 1968, the only times Notre Dame has finished in single digits in points allowed in one quarter were zero in the 1970 fourth quarter, seven in the third and fourth quarters in 1971, and seven in the first quarter in 1976. Those teams all played at least 11 games, just like this Fighting Irish unit. 9 Points given up through 11 games — with no touchdowns — by Notre Dame in the first quarter 11-0 14 38 son: the 1973 national champions (11-0), the 1988 national champions (12-0) and the 1989 unit that finished No. 2 (12-1). This was the first Fighting Irish team to exit Notre Dame Stadium after a game with an 11-0 mark. The only other one that had an attempt was the 10-0 No. 1 team in 1993 that lost 41-39 to Boston College. Only three other teams in Notre Dame history reached this mark during a sea- in head coach Bob Davie's second season in 1998 (6-0). The 13-year drought from 1999-2011 was the longest in school history, eclipsing the eight from 1956-63 and eight more from 1990-97. In a 22-year span from 1990-2011, that 1998 season was the lone unbeaten one at home. Years since Notre Dame finished a season unbeaten (6-0) at home. It last occurred Senior running back Cierre Wood ran for 150 yards, including a 68-yard score to start the game. In the process, he passed three alumni on the all- time rushing yards lists to land at seventh overall. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA season, it defeated its opponents by a total of 23 points (4.6 points per game), with none of the wins by more than seven points. In regulation time, the Fighting Irish outscored their first five home foes by a total of 13 points. Margin of victory against Wake Forest. In Notre Dame's first five home victories this 6,937 to Boston College on Nov. 20, 1993 … until the 38-0 conquest of Wake Forest on Nov. 17, 2012. The previous longest drought was from Oct. 2, 1954 until Nov. 1, 1964, a span of 3,683 days, including leap years. Days since Notre Dame was ranked No. 1, dating back to the 41-39 loss Points allowed by the Fighting Irish for the first time since it recorded a 35-0 shutout against Ne- BY LOU SOMOGYI 130 and a touchdown against the Demon Deacons. He eclipsed three-time All-American Ken MacAfee's (1974-77) 35-year school record of 128. Eifert needs 50 receiving yards to move past MacAfee's standard of 1,759 among Irish tight ends. (That does not in- clude MacAfee's nine catches for 133 yards in bowl games.) Career receptions by senior tight end Tyler Eifert after nabbing six for 85 yards 2,425 ing his career after amassing 150 on only 11 carries against Wake Forest. He moved past 1993-96 tailback Randy Kinder (2,295), the legendary George Gipp (2,341) — whose senior year was 1920 — and 1979- 82 tailback Phil Carter (2,409) to elevate to seventh place on the all-time Irish chart. Next in line is 1975-78 fullback/tailback Jerome Heavens (2,682). Yards rushing by senior run- ning back Cierre Wood dur-