Here is a look at what worked and what didn’t work in the Notre Dame victory. For Notre Dame, it had been a different story.
Advertisement
Coach Mike Brey wants the 6-foot-1 guard from nearby Mishawaka to be a playmaker, the top defender, hit clutch shots and fill the leadership void left by the graduations of Pat Connaughton and Jerian Grant, who guided the Fighting Irish to one of the program’s best seasons.
Sure, that’s the focus within the Notre Dame locker room, especially as underclassmen like Kizer see their senior teammates cherishing one last game-and win-inside their home stadium.
And sorry, C.J. Your record long run against Georgia Tech lasted less than 2 months.
Notre Dame defensive end Sheldon Day stopped Bell for no gain on fourth-and-goal early in the second quarter. 1 and will face Boston College next Saturday in Boston’s Fenway Park.
In the second quarter, Notre Dame’s defense stonewalled the Demon Deacons with a goal-line stand that gave the Irish the ball at their one. If Brian Kelly’s squad is going to maintain its current position in the Playoff, it needs bucketloads of style points in these next three weeks. Again, regardless of the result, that’s absolutely the right decision to go for it in that situation.
Linebacker Joe Schmidt said Day leads the entire team.
Jonas Gray supplied a big play in his 79-yard score against Pitt in 2011, and George Atkinson had home run potential.
Offensively, quarterback DeShone Kizer only passed for 111 yards, but he rushed for two TDs. Wake Forest (3-7) went 1-for-4 in red-zone opportunities.
Not Much From Fuller: After watching Notre Dame junior wideout Will Fuller thrash Pittsburgh to the tune of 152 yards and three touchdowns, Wake Forest’s defensive coaches decided not to let that happen to them. Their last three games of the season then allow them to gain bowl eligibility.
“I’m just glad to do what I could to make [the senior’s] day special”, said Adams, who’s 98 yard TD run is the longest player in Notre Dame history.
Wake Forest has struggled tremendously with turnovers. Zaire made just two starts this year before a broken ankle put Kizer at the helm of the Irish offense.
The Adams run set the Notre Dame record for longest play from scrimmage, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with television coverage on NBC.
Advertisement
But these accomplishments and Wednesday’s win over the No. 1 team in the nation do not mean the Irish are finished yet, Clark said. Also, Wake has to do a better job of tackling. His dominance went beyond just numbers, with Okwara coming up clutch for the Irish defense. Coincidentally, that game was also the last time Wake Forest trailed an opponent, until tonight.
