Game Day Thread: Notre Dame vs. South Florida
Notre Dame looks to improve to 2-0 today when it takes on the South Florida Bulls (1-0). The Irish and Bulls kick off at 2:30 PM eastern time.
Irish Breakdown will have the all the latest updates and analysis from the game.
4:56 PM - Notre Dame put the backup defenders in the game but the unit held up, with freshman end Alexander Ehrensberger getting a third-down sack on the first play of his career. On the punt the Bulls had yet another miscue on the snap, and Osita Ekwonu blocked the punt and it was recovered by Jordan Botelho for a touchdown.
4:47 PM - Notre Dame takes it first offensive drive down the field but a third-down incompletion forces a field goal. Book underthrew receiver Joe Wilkins Jr. It was underthrown mainly because he was late with the read, which resulted in him then putting too much zip and not getting it up for Wilkins.
3:56 PM - Notre Dame uses the short field to score another touchdown, taking a 35-0 lead. A great read and bounce by running back Kyren Williams went for 15 yards on the first play, and two plays later he made another great read on an inside zone where he got behind tremendous blocks by Banks/Patterson and Liam Eichenberg to get the ball to goal line. Irish scored a play later on a QB sneak.
3:51 PM - Irish defense forces another three-and-out. Through five series, the USF offense has just 57 yards of offense. 42 of those yards came on one play.
3:45 PM - Notre Dame's defense forces another three-and-out and the offense responds with a field goal drive. The drive began with a 31-yard run from Tyree, but USF loaded the box and used their safeties to attack ND's outside runs.
By not utilizing RPO's in the run game the offense is making it easier for USF to load the box, and that resulted in a TFL on third-down and two short runs. That won't hurt the offense vs. USF, but it did cause problems against Duke last week and could be an issue in future games. This is a big reason the RPOs were designed, and choosing to use receivers to block more than execute RPOs makes it easier to insert safeties into the box.
Drive ended with no points as Jonathan Doerer missed a field goal.
3:30 PM - Notre Dame goes up 28-0 after a 26-yard touchdown run from Flemister. Tight ends Brock Wright and Tremble both had great blocks on the run, which opened up the bounce for Flemister. Right side of the line (Robert Hainsey) just destroyed USF off the ball.
Center Jarrett Patterson had an excellent series IMO. His ability to get to the second level was key on a pair of 10+ yard runs on outside zone plays.
3:20 PM - Notre Dame takes a 21-0 lead after a 1-yard QB sneak by Book. The 3rd-and-13 conversion was the key behind the series. C'Bo Flemister had two runs of 10+ yards on the drive, including an 11-yard run where he made a defender miss in space. Well-called series, spotty execution, but the plays that needed to be made were made.
3:16 PM - Notre Dame faced a 3rd-and-13 after Book was hit on the previous play. Rees called a quick angle route to Jafar Armstrong that went for 18. It came a play after USF blitzed away from Armstrong the previous play, which meant they had a read on Notre Dame's protection. So Rees lined up the back the same side and had him run a quick angle route, and he was wide open for an 18-yard gain.
Tremendous play call to set up a 1st-and-goal.
3:06 PM - South Florida ripped off a 42-yard run after a Crawford missed tackle, but the Irish defense buckled down in part to a USF penalty. The Bulls faked a field goal on fourth down by Foskey made another big play, sacking the quarterback to end the drive.
Foskey sniffed out the fake and chased the quarterback down from behind in space. Really smart/heady play, but you also saw his excellent athleticism.
2:58 PM - After a blocked punt by Isaiah Foskey gives Notre Dame a short field, the Irish offense responds with a 43-yard scoring drive. Great first call by Rees on a bootleg comeback to Lenzy, so it was good to get him going.
The Irish line got solid movement at the point of attack, except on the second-down goal line run where Tommy Kraemer and Aaron Banks got knocked back, but freshman RB Chris Tyree made a good read, cut inside and pick up four yards.
Tyree scored a play later on a 1-yard run thanks to great blocking, especially by Tommy Tremble.
2:45 PM - Notre Dame takes the game's first drive right down the field. It was a great called series by OC Tommy Rees. Started off with a 3-tight end set and called a pass on down one, with QB Ian Book taking a shot downfield. OL got very good movement with an off-tackle power run (Gap scheme) and an inside zone, both went for 7 yards.
Book caps it off with a scramble touchdown run. Did a great job keeping eyes downfield, staying patient as he worked outside and then when no one was open he took the corner for the score.
Rees had USF off balance that series, using power formations but attacking downfield and on the perimeter.
2:20 PM - USF update:
2:18 PM - I'm told junior DT Jayson Ademilola will only be used in an emergency situation today.
2:14 PM - Senior Javon McKinley is working with the first team offense in the boundary and Lenzy is to the field. Freshman receivers Jordan Johnson (boundary) and Xavier Watts (field) are working with the second offense in pre-game.
2:10 PM - Sophomore LB Jack Kiser, safety Houston Griffith and freshman corner Clarence Lewis are working with the first team defense.
1:52 PM - Junior WR Braden Lenzy is out on the field and going through drills. According to Vince DeDario he looks crisp, sharp and healthy. Reminder, he is now wearing #0.
1:48 PM - With backup QB Brendon Clark out, 5th year senior wide receiver Avery Davis is taking third-team reps at QB.
1:13 PM - Notre Dame will be without starting safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback TaRiq Bracy and linebackers Shayne Simon and Marist Liufau, as well as punt returner/wide receiver Lawrence Keys III.
The Irish will also be without quarterback Brendon Clark, running back Jahmir Smith and defensive end Ovie Oghoufo.
We kick the day off with updates on Notre Dame's personnel. Irish Breakdown reported on Thursday that Notre Dame would be without two defensive starters for today's game. You can read that report HERE.
The latest information from sources is that list will expand today, and the Irish could be without at least one more starter on defense and multiple rotation players. You can read that update HERE.
Once Notre Dame makes an official release on the names of the players we will address it and talk about what it means for the Irish during today's contest and for next week's game against Wake Forest.
So stay locked into this article and the comments section below for all the latest.
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