Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1039349
20 OCT. 29, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI O nce again, it took Notre Dame grit to defeat Pitt. Ten times in the last 12 meetings between the two schools the game finished with a one- score outcome, and it was repeated when junior quarterback Ian Book's 35-yard touchdown pass to senior re- ceiver Miles Boykin with 5:43 remain- ing in the contest put Notre Dame ahead for good in the 19-14 triumph. Pitt had two more possessions left to take the lead. The first ended with an aborted fake punt in their territory. On the second, after sacking Book on fourth-and-inches, Pitt took over at its 38 with 2:38 remaining. Junior defensive end Khalid Kareem re- corded a 14-yard sack on first down, and then three straight incomplete passes clinched the outcome. After allowing Pitt to score a touch- down on an 88-yard drive on its first possession, the Irish defense domi- nated, led by a monster pass-rush performance by junior drop end Ju- lian Okwara, who was credited with seven quarterback hurries. The Irish lost the turnover battle (2-0), yielded a 99-yard kickoff return to start the second half, trailed the majority of the contest and rushed for only 80 yards, but leaned on good old-fashioned defense and a poised final drive to secure the victory. "If you told me all those things are going to happen and we still found a way to win the football game, I'd be pretty excited," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. Above all, there remains exhilara- tion and relief to enter the Oct. 20 bye week and mid-semester break 7-0 and in the four-team College Football Playoff hunt. "It gives us a chance to regroup after we had a tough week," Kelly said. "Our guys were in midterms this week. They could use a few days to regroup and get ready for the next five games, which are going to be re- ally difficult ones. "We are proud of our guys, their grit. They hung in there and found a way to win. It's college football. It's hard to win each and every week, and you're going to have some of these games. "… They weren't at their best, and Pittsburgh played well." The Panthers have developed a reputation as giant killers the past two years with 2016 victories over national champ Clemson and Big Ten champ Penn State, plus a conquest of 10-0 and No. 2 Miami last season. It came close again before the Irish prevailed. FIRST QUARTER: PITT 7, NOTRE DAME 0 Top Moment: Pitt's first possession began at its 12-yard line with 11:09 left, and the Panthers methodically drove 88 yards in 17 plays while milk- ing 9:43 off the clock. Fifth-year senior running back Qadree Ollison took a direct snap from Notre Dame's 9-yard line and romped up the middle for the touchdown at the 1:26 mark. Crucial to the drive was on fourth and-four at Pitt's 29-yard line, Notre Dame senior safety Nicco Fertitta jumped offside to give the Panthers a first down and new life. Standout Performers: The running of Ollison (eight carries for 27 yards) and passing of sophomore quar- terback Kenny Pickett (5 of 6 for 34 yards) propelled the scoring march. Stats: Notre Dame had only 45 total yards (5-of-6 passing for 31 yards and 14 yards rushing), while Pitt had 83 on its lone possession (not including the crucial five-yard Irish penalty). Items: Book was sacked for a 16- yard loss on the game's opening series to help stall that drive … The 7-0 defi- cit was the largest for Notre Dame this season (until the second half) … On the last play of the quarter, Pitt defen- sive back Jason Pinnock intercepted a scrambling Book's pass and returned it nine yards to the Panther 38-yard line. SECOND QUARTER: PITT 7, NOTRE DAME 6 Top Moment: Trailing 7-3 with a minute remaining, Notre Dame con- verted a fourth down to give it first- and-goal at the Pitt 9-yard line. Two sacks of Book forced a 41-yard field by senior kicker Justin Yoon to pull the Irish within 7-6 with five seconds left. The drive covered 42 yards in 12 plays. Standout Performer: Notre Dame's defense, led by Okwara's pass rush, forced three-and-out results on all three Pitt possessions in the quar- ter. The Panthers netted 17 yards on those series. Stats: Notre Dame ran 25 plays in the quarter that totaled 83 yards, while Pitt's nine plays resulted in 17 yards. Items: At the 4:34 mark, Yoon's 22- yard field goal reduced Notre Dame's deficit to 7-3 … The drive covered 44 yards in 10 plays after a Pitt punt. THIRD QUARTER: PITT 14, NOTRE DAME 12 Top Moment: Junior wide receiver Maurice Ffrench fielded the second- half kickoff at his 1-yard line, made a cut to his left and outraced the Irish for a 99-yard touchdown and a 14-6 Pitt lead. Standout Performer: After toss- ing an interception on Notre Dame's initial possession of the second half, Book completed three passes to se- nior wide receiver Chris Finke for 43 yards, and 21- and 16-yard strikes to junior wideout Chase Claypool — the latter for a touchdown on a slant with 2:09 left to pull the Irish within 14-12. The two-point conversion pass attempt missed. Stats: Through three quarters Notre Dame had 260 yards (207 pass- ing and 53 rushing), while Pitt had 190 (97 passing and 93 rushing). Items: After the kickoff return for a touchdown by Pitt, Notre Dame drove to the Panthers' 24-yard line, but Book was then hit by Pitt red- shirt freshman defensive lineman Nerves Of Steel The Fighting Irish maintain their poise and rally in fourth quarter to remain unbeaten with a 19-14 win over Pitt Junior drop end Julian Okwara had a big game with six tackles — including this big third-down stop for a three-yard loss that set up the game- winning drive — and seven quarterback hurries. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA