Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Notre Dame forged a methodical comeback. It shut the Cougars and quarterback Riley Nelson out in the second half. Meanwhile, ND fought back with just enough offense to avoid the upset.
Kyle Brindza’s 28-yard field goal with 2:25 left in the third quarter closed the deficit to 14-10. Then, at the 12:52 mark of the fourth, George Atkinson crossed pay dirt from 2 yards out for the go-ahead score.
In the absence of regular starter Everett Golson, quarterback Tommy Rees came in and completed 7 of 16 passes for 117 yards, a touchdown and one interception. But it was the combination of Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood that caused the most problems for the Cougars.
Riddick rushed for 143 yards, while Wood added on another 114. On the drive that made it 14-10, the two combined for six-straight rushing plays to set up Brindza’s field goal.
Notre Dame is at Oklahoma next week.
Source: Sporting News
Photo: Chicago Tribune