In a game where Stanford definitely could have used McCaffrey against Notre Dame’s high-powered offense, they’ll be left short-handed.
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It’s not drawing much midseason interest.
Johnson, who even played defense at Hibbing-Chisholm when necessary, has three goals and three assists in five games after posting six goals and 12 assists as a freshman. That lead, however, was short-lived as Ander Bjork potted the equalizer for Notre Dame just 17 seconds later.”I haven’t seen a period like that in a while where everyone was trading goals”, said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin.
Those issues exploded in David Shaw’s face in the last two weeks, with Stanford losing to Washington (on the road) and Washington State (at home) by a combined 64 points.
“We have been inconsistent one through 11. We all have a hand in it”, he said. The ineptitude of the team’s defensive play has been well-documented, but of late, the performance of the Irish offense has also come under fire.
Their national title dream evaporated earlier this season and a worthy bowl bid is even a stretch unless the Irish win out, so Kelly was asked about personnel changes. “I mean, they have a lot of talent, they’re usually skilled, and they play fast, but they got some grit to them, and they’re hard to play against”.
In each of Notre Dame’s defeats, Kelly’s team has had an opportunity in the final minutes to win the game.
7 This is the first time in seven years (2009) that both teams enter the game unranked.
McCaffrey is averaging 188.2 all-purpose yards, third in the FBS. Coach Brian Kelly said the troubles start on first down.
The Irish rank 84th in the nation in rush defense, giving up 181.2 yards a game.
INTERCEPTION STREAK: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer has thrown interceptions in five straight games.
McCaffrey, a junior, finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting a year ago – to Alabama’s Derrick Henry. Notre Dame was already a three-point favorite while McCaffrey’s status was up in the air. “In terms of playing with confidence and an awareness of my responsibilities, it was one of my better games”.
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The struggling Stanford Cardinal will be without their best player Saturday afternoon when they take on the Notre Dame Irish in South Bend. The lowest price for a ticket was $29.98. Tickets together were going for as low as $54 apiece.
