Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1290311
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 26, 2020 25 0 Points scored by South Florida, marking the fourth shutout of the 11-year Brian Kelly era. The others were 38-0 versus Wake Forest in 2012, 31-0 against Michigan in 2014 and the same 52-0 tally against Bowling Green last year. The Irish also had four total in the 13 years from 1997-2009. In 28 games under defensive coordinator Clark Lea, the opposition has fin- ished with 17 points or less 16 times. The 52-0 outcome was USF's worst defeat in its 23-year history, topping the 49-0 opener last year versus Wisconsin. 4 Teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision that have defeated Notre Dame without the Fighting Irish returning the favor: Connecticut (0-1), Georgia (0-3), Oregon State (0-2) and Tulsa (0-1). The list was pared down from the five entering the game because South Florida had stunned Notre Dame 23-20 in their lone previous meeting in 2011. 6 Points scored by freshman defensive end Jordan Botelho on a blocked punt in the third quarter that extended the lead to 45-0. It was the second time in four games a defensive lineman scored for the Irish, with the graduated Khalid Kareem doing so last year in the regular-season finale at Stanford. Cur- rent fifth-year senior end Ade Ogundeji also reached the end zone in a victory last September versus Virginia. 13 Combined tackles by two first-time starters on defense, sophomore Buck linebacker Jack Kiser (eight, two for loss) and freshman corner- back Clarence Lewis (five, one for loss), which ranked first and tied for second on the team. Twelve of those 13 were solo on an afternoon when 21 different Fighting Irish defenders were credited with tackles. 20 Consecutive victories in Notre Dame Stadium by the Fighting Irish, the second-longest winning streak in the 90-year history of the facil- ity, which opened in 1930. Entering the USF game it was tied for second with the 19 that were accomplished from 1987-90. The record is 28 from 1942-50. The home winning streak also is the fourth longest in the Football Bowl Sub- division, behind Clemson (24), Ohio State (21) and Central Florida (20). 26 Straight wins by Notre Dame against unranked opposition, placing it currently No. 2 nationally to Alabama, which hasn't fallen to such an upset since 2007. The school record is 29 that was set from 1990-94. 52 Points marked the 12th time in the 11-year Brian Kelly era that Notre Dame eclipsed the 50-point barrier. In the previous 12 seasons from 1998-2009, it was accomplished only once, a 57-7 win at Stanford in 2003. 61 Receiving yards by junior tight end Tommy Tremble, a career high that eclipsed his previous benchmark of 49 at Louisville in 2019. Last week against Duke, Tremble set a personal high in receptions in one game with five. 127 Rushing yards by junior running back C'Bo Flemister, a career high, on 13 carries. He totaled 162 yards last season in his first action at Notre Dame, and did not play in this year's opener because of a collarbone injury, per head coach Brian Kelly. The top two running backs, sophomore Kyren Williams (62 yards) and fresh- man Chris Tyree (65 yards), combined for that same total between them versus South Florida. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI 3 Rushing touchdowns by fifth-year senior IAN BOOK, tying for second place with others (including Book at Wake Forest in 2018) a Notre Dame single-game record by a quarterback. All three came in the first half, which is a one-game Irish record. Brandon Wimbush holds the overall standard with four while rushing for 207 yards in a 49-20 victory at Boston College in 2017. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS