Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/95140
THREE OBSERVATIONS TURNING POINT BY LOU SOMOGYI kicked a 21-yard field goal to narrow its deficit to 19-13. The next step was to bottle up Notre Dame deep in its territory — which it had done on its three previous kickoffs when the Fighting Irish had to begin from the 25, 21 and 16 on their side of the field. This time, though, USC ran out of its With 9:20 remaining in the game, USC this year sliced by more than half the 29 committed by Notre Dame last season, when it finished tied for 110th among 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams for most turnovers and placed 118th in turnover margin with a mi- nus-1.15 average per game. Furthermore, the Irish did not permit lanes on the coverage, and sophomore George Atkinson III returned the kick- off 39 yards to the Irish 44. It was Notre Dame's longest kick return in 26 tries this season, and it provided some needed breathing room. On the first play, senior running back Theo Riddick romped 20 yards to the USC 36. Five more running plays took the Irish down to the 2-yard line, where sophomore kicker Kyle Brin- dza booted a 19-yard field goal with 5:58 remaining to provide the two-score cush- ion again at 22-13. Notre Dame's goal-line stand on the ensuing series stole the show, but the Irish still would have led even with a USC touchdown. this year, Notre Dame did not commit a turnover, a remarkable feat of consis- tency. The Fighting Irish had one in the Sept. 1 opener against Navy in Ireland and two in the Nov. 10 contest at Boston College. It did not have any at Michigan State (Sept. 15), versus Miami in the Shamrock Series held in Chicago (Oct. 6), at Oklahoma (Oct. 27) and now at USC (Nov. 24). The 14 total turnovers For the fourth time in six road games TOP STAT(S) OF THE GAME more than 13 points to be scored on them in any of their six road contests: 10 by Navy, three by Michigan State, three by Miami, 13 by Oklahoma, six by Boston College and 13 by USC. year are averaging at least 200 yards rushing per game, while not allowing more than 100 yards rushing per con- test. One is No. 1 Notre Dame. During their 12-0 regular-season fin- Three teams in the 120-team FBS this CONTROLLING THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE ish, the Fighting Irish averaged 202.5 yards rushing while limiting opponents to 92.4 yards per game on the ground. The second is Alabama, the No. 2 team that could meet Notre Dame in the Jan. 7 BCS national title game. The 11-1 Crimson Tide is averaging 214.2 yards per game while yielding just 77.0 yards per contest. Florida State is third with a 203.7 rushing average on offense and 85.1 on defense — but the Seminoles lost Nov. 24 to Florida while getting outrushed 244-112. The last two times this 200-100 combo occurred on offense and defense at Notre Dame was … the 1977 and 1973 national champions.