 #3 Notre Dame vs. #2 Clemson in the CFP Cotton Bowl
By: Evan J. Thomas Today is the day! It is finally game day an just hours away for the #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-0) in the 2018 College Football Playoff in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX versus the heavily favored #2 Clemson Tigers (13-0). The Irish faithful have waited over a month since the Irish capped off an undefeated regular season schedule at U$C. The Irish players have been itching to get back on the field to play meaningful snaps rather than walk throughs, team practices and media days the past 4+ weeks. Head Coach Brian Kelly has his team thoroughly ready and poised to “shock the world” with a potential victory today. It’s been three seasons since the Hurricane Joaquin game at Clemson in which the Irish couldn’t pass the ball in the torrential rain and win in route to a 24-22 loss. That game is way back in the rear view mirror for both teams. Time to look to today’s matchup. The Notre Dame offense is led by quarterback Ian Book will look to control the ball. His precision passing will need to be demonstrated today. The running game will need to be at the forefront of the offense and is led by Dexter Wiliams. Play action and big plays will give the Irish the momentum. For the Irish to win we have to limit mistakes and keep the chains moving. The defense can’t give up big plays and will need to stymie the Tigers offense, put pressure on the . Easier said than done but I think it can and will happen. My Prediction: Notre Dame wins 38-35 and advances to the National Championship Game.
** Photo Credit: Evan J. Thomas ** ** Photos by Evan J. Thomas ** |
Brian Kelly | Brandon Wimbush | Tyler Newsome |
The Commodores first drive of the second half covered 50 yards on 10 plays in which Guay missed a 43 yard field goal attempt wide left. After a punt from Tyler Newsome, Vandy quickly moved the ball down to the Irish 36. Shurmer then threw his worst pass of the day as he turned it over in the end zone as Irish safety Troy Pride, Jr snagged the interception in the end zone. The next drive the Irish went three and out to give the ball back to the Commodores.
Shurmer drove his quad down the field on the Irish behind the legs of running back Ke”Shawn Vaughn as Vaughn put the first touchdown on the board for Vandy and cutting the Irish lead to 6 with a 16-10 score.
Head coach Brian Kelly’s squad answered the Commodores as the offense marched 75 yards on 11 plays as Kelly used both Wimbush and Ian Book at the helm during the drive. Book connected with wide open Nic Weishar for a 2 yard TD in the corner of the end zone. Kelly went for a 2 point conversion to try and put the Irish up by 14 points but the attempt failed giving the Irish a 22-10 lead early in the 4th quarter.
Vandy’s offense was clicking on all cylinders in the second half and showed no slowing down as the Commodores covered 75 yards on 11 plays as Shurmur found receiver Jared Pinkney darting towards the end zone and barreled through 3 defenders for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the score was now 22-17 in favor of the Irish.
Notre Dame’s next drive ended as the usually reliable Yoon missed a 32 yard field goal wide right to keep the score at 22-17 with just under 4 minutes remaining. Vandy took the ball and moved 49 yards downfield in mere minutes. With a 4th down and 4 yards to go from the Irish 31 Shurmur’s pass attempt to Kalija Lipscomb fell short.
Vandy had 2 timeouts remaining and used them wisely during the Irish’s attempt to run out the clock. A quick 3 and out was going to give the ball back to the Commodores with time remaining and a last shot at trying to take the game. Punter Newsome nailed the boot of the day as he boomed a 63 yard punt that held up in the air for nearly 7 seconds down to the Vanderbilt 10 and 5 seconds remaining on the clock. Vandy tried a pitch and catch and then attempted a handful of laterals to no avail. The ball dropped to the ground and Irish DB Love pounced on the loose ball to seal the game with a final of 22-17 and giving the Irish a 3-0 record to start for the first time since 2015.
The offense was led by running back Tony Jones Jr and his 119 yards on 17 carries and Wimbush added 95 yards on 19 carries. Wimbush finished the game completing 13 of his 23 passes for 122 yards. Book at quarterback was a perfect 3 for 3 for 13 yards and one TD.
Shurmur for Vandy completed 26 of his 43 passes for 326 yards and 1 TD and 1 INT.
The Irish have started quickly in all three games this year and have faltered in the second half of all three contests as well giving up leads and points and losing big leads. The Irish need to pick up the pace in the second halves if they want to make a move up the rankings in the next few weeks. The offense needs to show more and move the ball and the defense needs to show their moxie and keep their opponents from moving the ball at will downfield.
With their first away game coming this week against Wake Forest, Kelly’s squad needs to tighten things up on all facets before #7 Stanford Cardinal comes rolling in to South Bend in 2 weeks.
Shurmer drove his quad down the field on the Irish behind the legs of running back Ke”Shawn Vaughn as Vaughn put the first touchdown on the board for Vandy and cutting the Irish lead to 6 with a 16-10 score.
Head coach Brian Kelly’s squad answered the Commodores as the offense marched 75 yards on 11 plays as Kelly used both Wimbush and Ian Book at the helm during the drive. Book connected with wide open Nic Weishar for a 2 yard TD in the corner of the end zone. Kelly went for a 2 point conversion to try and put the Irish up by 14 points but the attempt failed giving the Irish a 22-10 lead early in the 4th quarter.
Vandy’s offense was clicking on all cylinders in the second half and showed no slowing down as the Commodores covered 75 yards on 11 plays as Shurmur found receiver Jared Pinkney darting towards the end zone and barreled through 3 defenders for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the score was now 22-17 in favor of the Irish.
Notre Dame’s next drive ended as the usually reliable Yoon missed a 32 yard field goal wide right to keep the score at 22-17 with just under 4 minutes remaining. Vandy took the ball and moved 49 yards downfield in mere minutes. With a 4th down and 4 yards to go from the Irish 31 Shurmur’s pass attempt to Kalija Lipscomb fell short.
Vandy had 2 timeouts remaining and used them wisely during the Irish’s attempt to run out the clock. A quick 3 and out was going to give the ball back to the Commodores with time remaining and a last shot at trying to take the game. Punter Newsome nailed the boot of the day as he boomed a 63 yard punt that held up in the air for nearly 7 seconds down to the Vanderbilt 10 and 5 seconds remaining on the clock. Vandy tried a pitch and catch and then attempted a handful of laterals to no avail. The ball dropped to the ground and Irish DB Love pounced on the loose ball to seal the game with a final of 22-17 and giving the Irish a 3-0 record to start for the first time since 2015.
The offense was led by running back Tony Jones Jr and his 119 yards on 17 carries and Wimbush added 95 yards on 19 carries. Wimbush finished the game completing 13 of his 23 passes for 122 yards. Book at quarterback was a perfect 3 for 3 for 13 yards and one TD.
Shurmur for Vandy completed 26 of his 43 passes for 326 yards and 1 TD and 1 INT.
The Irish have started quickly in all three games this year and have faltered in the second half of all three contests as well giving up leads and points and losing big leads. The Irish need to pick up the pace in the second halves if they want to make a move up the rankings in the next few weeks. The offense needs to show more and move the ball and the defense needs to show their moxie and keep their opponents from moving the ball at will downfield.
With their first away game coming this week against Wake Forest, Kelly’s squad needs to tighten things up on all facets before #7 Stanford Cardinal comes rolling in to South Bend in 2 weeks.
Game Photos by: Evan J. Thomas
One of the biggest rivalries is back in the College Football landscape after a 3 year hiatus as the #12 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame took down the #14 in the land and long time rivals the Michigan Wolverines 24-17 Saturday night at raucous Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN.
The Irish offense jumped on the Wolverines defense early as quarterback Brandon Wimbush led a 7 play, 75 yard scoring drive that covered just 90 seconds and was capped off by a Jafar Armstrong 13 yard touchdown run.
The Irish added their second TD in the first quarter as Wimbush connected with a flying Chris Finke as Finke scaled over a defender to reel in the touchdown and giving the Irish a 14-0 lead. That drive covered 96 yards on 7 plays while taking 3:07 off the clock.
Wimbush got the game ball from coach Brian Kelly after a game where he completed 12 of his 22 passes for 170 yards with the one TD and 1 INT. He also gained 77 yards on the ground on 18 carries to lead the team in rushing.
Michigan finally got on the board early in the second quarter with a 28 yard field goal.
Wimbush then promptly marched his team downfield for the longest scoring drive for the Irish on the day. 15 plays for 75 yards in 7:37 as Armstrong added his second rushing touchdown on the day as he scampered from 4 yards out and giving the Irish a commanding 21-3 lead.
The Wolverines quickly bounced back as Ambry Thomas took the ensuing kickoff from his own 1 yard line and raced down the middle of the field for a 99 yard kickoff return touchdown and cutting the Irish lead to 21-10 going into the half.
The Irish offense jumped on the Wolverines defense early as quarterback Brandon Wimbush led a 7 play, 75 yard scoring drive that covered just 90 seconds and was capped off by a Jafar Armstrong 13 yard touchdown run.
The Irish added their second TD in the first quarter as Wimbush connected with a flying Chris Finke as Finke scaled over a defender to reel in the touchdown and giving the Irish a 14-0 lead. That drive covered 96 yards on 7 plays while taking 3:07 off the clock.
Wimbush got the game ball from coach Brian Kelly after a game where he completed 12 of his 22 passes for 170 yards with the one TD and 1 INT. He also gained 77 yards on the ground on 18 carries to lead the team in rushing.
Michigan finally got on the board early in the second quarter with a 28 yard field goal.
Wimbush then promptly marched his team downfield for the longest scoring drive for the Irish on the day. 15 plays for 75 yards in 7:37 as Armstrong added his second rushing touchdown on the day as he scampered from 4 yards out and giving the Irish a commanding 21-3 lead.
The Wolverines quickly bounced back as Ambry Thomas took the ensuing kickoff from his own 1 yard line and raced down the middle of the field for a 99 yard kickoff return touchdown and cutting the Irish lead to 21-10 going into the half.
| Jerry Tillery forces fumble to end the game. | Alma Matter and player celebrations |
The second half was more of a game of field position. Notre Dame added a field goal late in the third quarter as kicker Justin Yoon connected from 48 yards out and a 24-10 lead.
The Wolverines weren't giving up as running back Karan Higdon barrelled in the end zone to get the game within one score.
Notre Dame quickly went three and out and gave the ball back to Michigan with less than 2 minutes remaining. Defensive end Jerry Tillery brought down quarterback Shea Patterson for a strip sack as the Irish recovered the fumble to put the game away.
A deafening We Are ND Nation crowd went home happy last night and will embark on a new week 1-0 to start the season while looking ahead to Saturday's matchup at home against Ball State.
The Wolverines weren't giving up as running back Karan Higdon barrelled in the end zone to get the game within one score.
Notre Dame quickly went three and out and gave the ball back to Michigan with less than 2 minutes remaining. Defensive end Jerry Tillery brought down quarterback Shea Patterson for a strip sack as the Irish recovered the fumble to put the game away.
A deafening We Are ND Nation crowd went home happy last night and will embark on a new week 1-0 to start the season while looking ahead to Saturday's matchup at home against Ball State.
Post Game Interviews
| Brandon Wimbush meets the media | Wimbush talks about attacking the Michigan Defense | What beating Michigan means to him & the team | Brian Kelly meets the media |
| Kelly discusses the defense | Kelly talks about bending but not breaking | Kelly talks offensive line | Kelly talks about minimizing penalties |
Game Photos
Photographer: Evan J. Thomas
Author
Evan J. Thomas is a photographer, writer & interviewer
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