Player of the Game Scrambled to His Right and Lobbed Touchdown of His Career
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NOTRE DAME 13, MICHIGAN 6 | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 | ndSMCOBSERVER.COM At long last Rees relieves Golson, defense leads Notre Dame over Michigan for first time since 2008 By CONOR KELLY second. Sports Writer “The young defensive backs showed they had the capability to On a cool night at Notre Dame rise up in games like this. Bennett Stadium, No. 11 Notre Dame’s de- obviously had a hell of a game. fense finally removed a massive Everybody played great,” Motta weight from its collective shoul- said. “It was just the beastliness ders by keeping Michigan senior of the defense imposing its will quarterback Denard Robinson on Denard and his mentality.” out of the end zone and causing Senior captain and linebacker six turnovers as the Irish defeated Manti Te’o had a career perfor- the No. 18 Wolverines 13-6. mance on a night that Notre The Irish defense proved to be Dame fans honored the Hawaii dominant for the fourth straight native by wearing a leis a just over week and the offense, led by ju- a week after Te’o lost his girlfriend nior quarterback Tommy Rees, and grandmother within 24 put up just enough points to win hours. The senior recorded eight and put the game away with two tackles and two interceptions. sustained drives in the fourth Te’o is now tied with Jackson for quarter. Rees replaced starting the team lead in interceptions sophomore quarterback Everett with three. Golson in the second quarter. “[Manti] is the guy in there,” Despite Michigan’s struggles Kelly said. “I mean, it all evolves moving the ball and with turn- around him, his personality, his overs, the Irish did not put the strength. He’s a special guy. Take game away until late in the fourth advantage of him while you’ve quarter. With Notre Dame (4-0) got him now, because I’ve never leading 13-3 and Michigan (2-2) been around a kid like that.” driving, freshman defensive end Te’o keyed an Irish front sev- Sheldon Day sacked Robinson en that limited the explosive with 3:36 remaining, forcing the Robinson to 90 rushing yards on Wolverines to a 31-yard field goal. 26 carries and got pressure on The sack helped quell memories him all night, a vast improvement of losses to Michigan in 2009, over a year ago when Robinson 2010 and 2011. torched the Irish for 446 yards From there, Rees and the Irish in Michigan’s 34-30 victory over offense ran out the clock, con- Notre Dame in Ann Arbor. Junior verting two third downs in the linebacker Danny Spond had process. Rees connected with seven tackles, and sophomore senior tight end Tyler Eifert on a defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt route down the right sideline for ALEX PARTAK | The Observer continued to terrorize opposing a 38-yard gain on third-and-four Senior tight end Tyler Eifert hauls in a 38-yard pass on Notre Dame’s final drive during its 13-6 win over quarterbacks, recording a sack of and senior tailback Theo Riddick Michigan on Saturday. The catch was Eifert’s only of the game and helped the Irish run out the clock. Robinson in the first quarter that busted through the line for an brought his season total to six. 8-yard run on third-and-eight State game where he was in an we don’t have to do that, but we’re Senior safety Zeke Motta In his continued starting role that iced the game for the Irish. incredible environment. He still going to try to win football stepped into the role of elder following the injury of senior “You’ve got to run into what needs to just settle down a little games anyway possible.” statesmen in the Irish secondary Nick Tausch, sophomore kicker you’ve got,” Riddick said. “They bit, and he’s going to be fine. He’ll Despite the seeming ambigu- and directed a unit that helped Kyle Brindza was perfect for the stacked the box. I was basically, have a week off to evaluate all the ity of his role, Rees said he is com- pick off Michigan on five con- Irish, knocking home field goals ‘boxed in’ is the term we use. things.” fortable with helping out Golson secutive pass attempts in the of 33 and 39 yards. You’ve just got to put your foot in Rees continued to play the and coming in whenever he is first half. Freshman safety Nicky The Irish now move into their the ground.” role of closer and experienced needed. Baratti stepped in front of a half- bye week at 4-0 for the first time After the game, Irish coach backup for the Irish, managing “You just have to be prepared back pass in the end zone in the since 2002 and will face Miami at Brian Kelly had to deny the pos- the offense efficiently on eight of throughout the week,” Rees said. first quarter while junior corner- Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 6. sibility of a brewing quarterback 11 passing with no completion “You have to do the little things back Bennett Jackson and fresh- controversy for the second time bigger than his toss third-down throughout the week and pre- man cornerback KeiVarae Russell Contact Conor Kelly at in three weeks after he yanked toss to Eifert on Notre Dame’s fi- pare like you’re going to play and both picked off Robinson in the [email protected] Golson for Rees. The sophomore nal drive of the game. Rees also stay ready and engaged while the completed just three of eight scored the team’s lone touch- game is going on.” passes for 30 yards to start the down of the day, a 2-yard de- Though the quarterback situ- game. He was intercepted twice, signed right out of an empty set ation garnered a lot of attention, once on his first attempt of the formation at 4:13 of the second the Irish defense picked off five day and again on his last as he quarter. It was the first rushing Michigan passes, caused a fum- PLAYER OF THE GAME scrambled to his right and lobbed touchdown of his career. ble and limited the Wolverines to an underthrown ball in the di- “We’re fairly comfortable if just 299 yards of total offense. rection of sophomore receiver we need Tommy to come in and While Notre Dame’s defensive MANTI TE’O DaVaris Daniels that Michigan handle some of the offense for front has been much lauded early NOTRE DAME LINEBACKER safety Thomas Gordon picked off us, if we feel like it’s necessary, this season, the young Irish de- in the end zone. we will,” Kelly said. “He’s a great fensive backfield came up huge On a night that tens of thousands fans wore leis in support of the “Everett is our starter,” Kelly asset to have if you need him. To under the brightest lights, ac- senior linebacker, Te’o responded by recording eight tackles and said after the game. “He was not close out a game, we’ll continue counting for three interceptions two interceptions in assisting the Irish hold Denard Robinson and as comfortable as I would have to go that route. We’d like to con- and limiting the big play ability of Michigan to 299 yards of total offense. Te’o also forced another in- liked after playing the Michigan tinue to develop Everett so that Robinson and the Wolverines. terception when he hurried Robinson into an errant pass. 2 ThE OBSERVER | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012| ndSMCOBSERVER.COM INSIDER REPORT CARD QUARTERBACKS C There was not much that went right for Everett Golson, whose two interceptions forced the insertion of Tommy Rees. Rees led the Irish offense for two-thirds of the game and did not wow anyone but did not turn the ball over either. RUNNING BACKS B- Cierre Wood ran hard when he got the ball, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, but the Irish struggled to find consitency on the ground. Notre Dame managed just three yards per carry and the lone rushing touchdown came from Rees. RECEIVERS B- The receivers were not aided by the quarterback struggles but also did not do much to assist the signal callers. Tyler Eifert managed just one catch and the receivers failed to get open on third down. It was encouraging, however, to see DaVaris Daniels come back from injury nicely. OFFENSIVE LINE B The unit played well for the second consecutive week, de- spite not putting up eye-popping numbers in the run game. The offensive line did not allow a Wolverine sack and con- ceded just two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. DEFENSIVE LINE A- The deep and talented unit showed up once again, dropping Denard Robinson at key junctures of the game. Stephon Tuitt’s sack in the first quarter forced a missed field goal while Sheldon Day’s stopped a threat- ening Wolverine drive in the fourth quarter. KIRBY McKENNA | The Observer LINEBACKERS Graduate student defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore and junior linebacker Prince Shembo celebrate A Manti Te’o played like the All-American he is and the Notre Dame’s 13-6 win over Michigan. The win was the first over the Wolverines since 2008. Heisman Trophy candidate he could be. After three seasons without an interception, he has three through four games. Danny Spond and Prince Shembo also Notre Dame overcomes played key roles in containing the slippery Robinson.