Notre Dame Bullies Southern Cal in 48-20 Trouncing Of Trojans

Facing the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation and a Heisman Trophy winner is a daunting task for any team but Notre Dame’s defense was up to the challenge Saturday night against Caleb Williams and the No. 10 Southern Cal Trojans.

USC (6-1) came into the night averaging a nation’s-best 51.8 points per game, but the Fighting Irish (6-2) defense was a buzzsaw, intercepting Williams three times and sacking the reigning Heisman winner six times enroute to a convincing 48-20 win.

Xavier Watts was the blade on the defensive buzzsaw, leading the way with two interceptions, a fumble return for a late touchdown and another forced fumble while finishing with seven tackles and a pass breakup as well.

The Fighting Irish defense limited the Trojans to their lowest scoring total of the season while forcing the worst interception total of Williams’ brilliant career. Williams was rarely comfortable while completing 23 of 37 passes for 199 yards, his second-lowest career passing total.

Williams came into the game with just 10 career interceptions in 877 career attempts. He had just one interception all season prior to Saturday night. The only other multi-interception game in his career came as a freshman at Oklahoma when he threw two picks in a loss to Baylor.

The Fighting Irish defense made a momentum shifting play right away. Just one play after USC gained 11 yards to convert a 3rd and 9, Xavier Watts intercepted Williams and gave the Irish offense the ball at the Trojan 12 after a 38-yard return. Hartman hit Gi’Bran Payne on a swing pass on Notre Dame’s third play for a four-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead 3:30 into the game.

USC got its first points when Denis Lynch booted a 25-yard field goal at the end of a 10-play drive that stalled at the Irish 8-yard line to make it a 7-3 game with 1:13 left in the first quarter.

Spencer Shrader answered with a 36-yard field goal after the Irish drove to the Southern Cal 18 to make it a 10-3 game early in the second quarter.

Watts struck again for his second interception of the night after Gabe Rubio tipped a Williams pass attempt. Watts grabbed the pass at the SC 25 and returned it to the two, where Audric Estime scored on the only play of the Irish drive to give Notre Dame a 17-3 lead with 4:14 to play in the first half.

Williams threw his third interception of the half, this time by Benjamin Morrison, giving the Irish the ball at midfield. Estime scored from one yard out five plays later to make it 24-3. Lynch booted a 48-yard field goal at the end of the first half to make it a 24-6 game.

Notre Dame punted on its first two drives of the second half, going three and out each time. USC responded with a 31-yard touchdown run by MarShawn Lloyd on its second possession to cut the Irish lead to 24-13 with 7:20 remaining.

Hartman connected on a 46-yard touchdown pass to Chris Tyree on the ensuing drive to put Notre Dame on top 31-13. Estime ran on the first three plays of the drive and ran one more time after an eight-yard pass to Mitchell Evans. Hartman’s play fake to Estime set up Tyree on the deep post for the score. Hartman was a modest 13 of 20 for 126 yards and two touchdown passes.

Notre Dame’s defense pinned its ears back in the waning moments of the third quarter, coming up with sacks on back-to-back plays. Marist Liufau dropped Williams to make in 2nd and 18 and then a bull rush by Rylie Mills allowed Nana Osafo-Mensah to corral the quarterback to make it 3rd and 28. USC’s third punt of the night followed.

USC had its best starting field position of the night after Zachariah Branch’s 60-yard punt return gave USC the ball at the Irish 18. Punter Bryce McFerson saved a touchdown by making the tackle, but Williams hit Brenden Rice five plays later to make it 31-20 with 9:04 to play.

Jadarian Price stole USC’s momentum right back when he took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, the first Irish kick return to reach the end zone in two years. Price initially ran to his right, then cut back to his left and raced the distance for his first career return for a score.

USC out gained the Irish 302-251 but Notre Dame committed no turnovers after committing a season-worst five a week earlier in a loss to Louisville.

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