Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Keep up with this Jones? USC can’t catch Irish RB
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Tony Jones Jr. rushed for a career-high 176 yards and Jonathan Doerer kicked three long field goals as No. 9 Notre Dame held off longtime rival Southern California 30-27 Saturday night.
The Fighting Irish (5-1), who rushed for a season-high 308 yards, clinched their third straight victory over the Trojans (3-3) on Ian Book’s 8-yard run with 3:33 left.
“An exciting football game,” coach Brian Kelly said. “Our guys prepared so well for this game. They (Trojans) were coming off a bye week and we knew there were some things we’d have to adjust to. We took USC’s best shot.”
Book’s touchdown ended a 14play, 75-yard drive that took 6:54 off the clock after USC had drawn within 23-20.
Book, who rushed for 49 yards and added 165 yards through the air on 17-of-32 passing, credited offensive coordinator Chip Long for “great play-calling. They were bringing pressure off the edge, so I just wanted to bring it up the middle. The line did a good job.”
The Irish finished with 473 total yards to USC’s 426.
The Trojans’ Markese Stepp, who ran for 82 yards, scored from the 2 with 1:04 left to make it 30-27. But Notre Dame’s Brock Wright recovered the onside kick, and the Irish ran out the clock.
“Notre Dame is a good football team and we are, too, and I can’t wait to watch the next six games,” said USC coach Clay Helton, who fell to 1-4 against Notre Dame.
Jones’ fourth 100-yard game of the season came on 25 carries. He had 12 runs for 120 yards in the first half.