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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Fourth Quarter: BYU really gave all Notre Dame it could handle today. But the running game by Notre Dame just wore down a tired defense that has been on the field for so long. The Irish had two 100-yard rushers in the game and only attempted three passes in the second half. The bottom line was their defense in this game who held BYU under 50 yards in the second half and didn't allow a score.
The Cougars leave South Bend knowing that they were one score in the second half away from making this a very special trip to Indiana. BYU finishes their valiant effort with a 17-14 loss.
Third Quarter:BYU cannot afford to play not to lose. They have to play to win this game by moving that football like they did, at least somewhat effectively, in the first half.
The defense gave up a long run down to the 6 yard line but held the Irish to a field goal to make it 14-10. Then the offense has not been able to move the football and now sits at the end of the third quarter with the ball on the BYU 28 and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish threatening to regain the lead.
If the defense has to keep making the game-saving stops without scoring support, this will be another come-from-behind victory for the Irish. Did I mention that BYU missed another field goal? That's not going to help.
Second Quarter:What a difference a quarter and a turnover makes. BYU, thanks to the patient running by the 17-year old Jamaal Williams and a dumb late hit by the Irish defense, the Cougars were able to punch in a 6-yard TD from Riley Nelson to Cody Hoffman on blown Notre Dame coverage. It was the first TD that the Gold-Domers had given up on defense in over a month.
Cut to the game changer. Tommy Rees, bounces a ball off of his receiver's helmet into the air and into the hands of Kyle VanNoy. KVN was able to get inside the ND 30 and Nelson tosses another TD, this time to TE, Kaneakua Friel. BYU takes a lead and Notre Dame's kicker leaves the Irish with more points on the field with a missed FG.
The Cougars take the 14-7 lead into the locker room. The BYU defense would be the MVP but the offense beats them out but scoring two touchdowns in the first half.
First Quarter: Both teams with very quick starts on offense moving the ball relatively well down the field on the other defense.
However, both teams' drives fizzled very quickly as Notre Dame committed penalties and missed a long field goal to stall out their drive, while a Riley Nelson interception on a Kaneakua Friel tip stopped BYU in its tracks after getting into the "Blue Zone".
Did I mention who got the pick? Some guy named Manti Te'o. His fourth interception on the year and he proved why he is such a handful. He's everywhere. Both defenses then showed why they are the stars of this game sacking each respective sides' QB to stop drives. Unless these teams score on defense or with big plays, this game is looking like its going to be low scoring which could be alright for BYU if Nelson can limit his mistakes. Right on cue, two big-chunk plays for Notre Dame put them on the BYU four yard line and promptly punched it in with a Rees completion to TE Tyler Eifert.
The Quarter ends with BYU about to give the ball back to the Irish with a Stephenson punt. Nelson is really lost right now in the backfield with all the pressure he's getting.
