IRISH TAKE THE FOURTH NO.
Interceptions blunt Trojans, who can’t keep lead for coach Helton
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — As rallying cries go, “Win One for Clay Helton” doesn’t have the same juice as “Win One for the Gipper” or even “Win One for the Sark.”
But it was Helton for whom the USC Trojans were playing at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday evening, and their motivation was almost sufficient. They used a bigplay offense to slug it out with the Irish for three-plus quarters, only to have ND pull out a 41-31 victory behind 17 fourth-quarter points and late-game interceptions by KeiVarae Russell and Max Redfield.
“Just your normal Notre DameUSC football game,” Irish coach Brian Kelly said. “A tremendous game if you like offense.”
Most of the nation’s eyeballs were probably trained on CubsMets in the baseball playoffs, but if NBC wanted offense for its primetime television audience, the teams delivered. Along with 72 points, they produced 1,066 total yards, touchdown passes of 83, 75 and 75 yards and runs covering 65, 32 and 31 yards.
ND’sWill Fuller caught a 75yard TD pass and drew pass-interference calls on successive plays as the Irish mounted a 90-yard, fourth-quarter drive to the tying touchdown. USC’s Adoree Jackson went 83 yards with a screen pass, scoring a touchdown that was equal parts jitterbug running and sloppy tackling.
Throw in a bit of trickeration — each team utilized a double-pass play for a combined 110 yards — and it was Tumms all around for defensive coaches.
DeShone Kizer’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Corey Robinson broke a 31-all tie with 9:06 remaining. Two plays later, Russell leaped over JuJu Smith-Schuster to swipe Cody Kessler’s pass, setting up Justin Yoon’s 32-yard field goal for a 41-31 Irish lead.
Redfield’s interception on the next USC possession sealed Notre Dame’s sixth victory in seven games. The Irish also turned a blocked punt into a first-quarter touchdown, so defense had some say in keeping ND viable in the BCS playoff discussion. The Irish should remain there through Thanksgiving; their remaining schedule consists of Stanford and a bunch of ACC detritus.
During a tumultuous week for the Trojans, Helton, a 42-year-old quarterbacks coach, was elevated to interim head coach when athletic director Pat Haden fired Steve Sarkisian after 1 ½ seasons, 18 games and too many incidents of alcohol-fueled bad behavior.
USC (4-3) is still USC, though, with a roster talented enough to withstand a little turmoil.
The Trojans took Notre Dame’s best punch in falling behind 21-10 during an explosive first quarter, but used a succession of big plays to draw even at 24 at halftime.
Kessler, who strafed the Irish with six TD passes in last season’s 49-14 blowout, threw for 235 yards in the first half and finished 30-for46 for 365 yards and two scores. But the two interceptions were killers.
Kizer, after an 8-for-8 start, was 15-for-24 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked four times. C.J. Prosise ground out 143 yards on 19 carries and scored twice.
Notre Dame sputtered after its rocket-fueled first quarter, coming up empty on five of six possessions at one stretch. The Irish seemed to lose their mojo when Torii Hunter Jr. fumbled into the end zone from the 3-yard line with ND driving toward a 28-10 lead, but Hunter later made amends with a 35-yard strike to freshman Alize Jones as the Irish used a double pass on a 91-yard drive to their go-ahead touchdown.