When: Saturday, 5 p.m. Notre Dame needed him to step up against Stanford, that’s what he did.
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“Our big thing that we talked about earlier today was belief, ” Cardinal coach David Shaw said. “Belief in the work we put in, belief in our preparation, belief in our struggles – belief that our struggles helped us to be a better team”.
“And at some point, it was going to come down to making a play to win”.
The Cardinal also get another shot to impress the committee next week in the Pac-12 title game against either No. 23 UCLA or Southern California. And even then, there would be no guarantees. It’s great that they added another tally to the win column, but if they play like that against Stanford everyone can kiss those playoff dreams goodbye.
It’s hard to criticize the Irish for their one loss this year, considering all the injuries Notre Dame has endured in 2015.
“I’d put this team up against anybody”, coach Brian Kelly said. “We had to finish the game and then we got celebrate in the end”.
No. 25 TEMPLE 27, UCONN 3 (at Philadelphia) – Jahad Thomas ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and P.J. Walker threw for 160 yards and a score to help the Owls (10-2, 7-1) beat the Huskies (6-6, 4-4) and secure a spot in the AAC’s inaugural championship game. He threw four touchdown passes, and it was his 27-yard completion to Devon Cajuste that set up Conrad Ukropina’s game-winning kick. If Hogan is on the board in the second or third round, the team is going to have a tough time passing up on his potential.
Quarterback DeShone Kizer walks off the field stunned after Stanford’s game winning field goal.
“I don’t even think I got to talk to him”, said Cajuste, who gained a season-high 125 yards on five catches. “It’s the same kick we’ve done 100 times in practice”.
It was a fitting conclusion to a taut, entertaining game in which the offenses did as they pleased. The Irish got outstanding play from the line, as well as freshman running back Josh Adams (168 yards) and sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer (128 yards). Notre Dame’s complete and total inability to execute and take care of the ball in the red zone cost them the Clemson game, it cost them style points last week against BC, and tonight it cost them whatever tiny chance was left for them to reach the College Football Playoff.
Strong Run Game: Notre Dame finished with 299 rushing yards on just 35 carries for its most dominant performance of the season considering the competition. Christian McCaffrey? Elite player who’ll be invited to New York City, but the Heisman Trophy belongs to Bama’s Derrick Henry this year. The Irish left a bit too much time on the clock. The Cardinals defense will try to contain Kizer, as his play could determine the outcome of this crucial game. Three other trips resulted in Yoon field goals Saturday.
“I really don’t care about the rankings right now”, linebacker Joe Schmidt said.
Kevin Hogan, playing his last home game as a member of the Cardinal, proceeded to ensure he left one more indelible mark in the program’s history books. A win over Notre Dame would be the best for them all season, plus next week they will take on either UCLA or USC in the conference title game. Hogan grew up cheering for the Irish. Notre Dame may be independent, but only a insane man could claim that these Big 12 teams are better than them.
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“There was no doubt in my mind that we’d win the game”. His 34 victories are a school record and most among active QBs. Similar success for Stanford will give quarterback Kevin Hogan a host of options at the line of scrimmage, allow the Cardinal to control the flow and keep Notre Dame’s potent offense on the sideline…
