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 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 . 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 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 , 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 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 , he has three through four games. Danny Spond and Prince Shembo also Notre Dame overcomes played key roles in containing the slippery Robinson. Defensive Backs Michigan — finally A For the fourth time this season, the Irish held their oppo- nent under 200 yards passing. What was once a glaring memories are as distant as reels — but that is just who weakness has improved dramitically over the last two Matthew DeFranks Robinson’s passes to his own this team is. The win marked weeks. The secondary had three of the five interceptions. Associate Sports Editor team. Notre Dame’s lowest output The way Notre Dame won in a victory since they beat Special teams The ghosts are gone. The was not like the Irish of the USC 10-6 in 1990. demons have been exorcised. last three years. It was not Its identity will become B Kyle Brindza nailed both of his field goals, including The curse has been lifted. even like the Wolverines of increasingly defensive, espe- a 39-yarder in the fourth quarter that extended Notre Finally. the past three seasons. This cially if Brian Kelly’s offense Dame’s lead to 10. Ben Turk had a couple bad punts and Michigan’s winged hel- game wasn’t a typical Notre continues to sputter and the Irish failed to register a single return yard. mets could not help Denard Dame-Michigan game. There Manti Te’o keeps making a Robinson fly. His shoe- was no scoring in the 30s case for the Heisman Trophy. Coaching laces and his wobbly throws (heck, the teams combined Not that it’s a bad thing. tripped him up. And this 19 points). There was no late Notre Dame turned a A What a difference a year makes. Last year, Robinson time, it was Notre Dame that heroics, no late daggers, no corner in the win over the tortured the Irish, but Bob Diaco was ready this time closed the game. Finally. real drama. But for this Irish Wolverines. It showed it and held the Wolverines out of the end zone. Notre Dame did some- squad, that’s fine with them. can handle the pressure of thing Saturday it had not This win had the 2012 back-to-back top-20 oppo- done since 2008 — beat the team’s fingerprints all over it. nents, that it can manage the Wolverines. Theo Riddick Notre Dame used its domi- atmosphere surrounding a Overall GPA: 3.22 said the 0-3 record against nating defense instead of an night game in Notre Dame Michigan was “tatted” on the electrifying offense and the Stadium, that it can beat ri- Notre Dame rode its stellar, opportunistic defense Saturday, but seniors. Now, that blemish is Irish manhandled and frus- vals who tormented it. the offense has a lot of work to do to get up to its couterpart’s lev- gone along with nightmares trated Robinson much in the This team is different than el. Everett Golson remains the starter for Notre Dame’s next game of fourth-quarter comebacks same way he had them in the ones in the past. And because against Miami, but Tommy Rees still looms as a servicable backup. and nail-biting, back-break- last two years. it is, they are 4-0 for the first As long as the defense plays like the last two game, it may not matter. ing losses. He was sacked three times, time in 10 years. The Irish First, it was Tate Forcier’s threw four interceptions took consecutive games over zinger to Greg Matthews and fumbled once in a game top-25 opponents for the first that buried , that could have been quite time in seven years. Notre Charlie Weis and Notre the 22nd birthday celebra- Dame is in the top 10 for the Play of the game Dame in 2009. Then, it was tion. Instead, it was the Irish first time in six years. They Robinson running around, who put the icing on their are a BCS contender. over and through the Irish victory cake by limiting the Finally. in 2010. And then last sea- Michigan offense to less than rees ices the game with third-down completion to eifert son, well, we all know what 300 yards. Contact Matthew DeFranks happened. Notre Dame will be win- at [email protected] On the game’s final drive, when a first down could have ended the But those memories should ning ugly — the 20-3 win over The views expressed in this game, Tommy Rees found Tyler Eifert down the sideline for a 38- disappear as easily as Notre Michigan State and the 13-6 column are those of the author yard gain on third-and-four. The reception was Eifert’s first in the Dame’s fourth quarter victory over Michigan are not and not necessarily those of last two games and allowed the Irish to run out the clock. lead did in 2011. All those going to be many highlight The Observer. Insider ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, September 24, 2012 | The Observer 3 Defense handles Scoring Summary Michigan, forces turnovers 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total 0 0 0 6 6 0 10 0 3 13

1 No SCORING drives

2 Notre Dame 3, michigan 0 Kyle Brindza 33-yard field goal-yard run 10:09 remaining Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:58 elapsed Notre Dame 10, Michigan 0 Tommy Rees 2-yard run (Brindza kick) 1:21 remaining Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 4:49 elapsed KIRBY McKENNA | The Observer Senior linebacker Manti Te’o, 5, on ground, reacts after intercepting his second pass during Notre No SCORING DRIVES Dame’s 13-6 win over Michigan. Te’o also added eight tackles and a quarterback hurry. 3 By JOSEPH MONARDO picked off Michigan senior run- recovery. Senior safety Notre Dame 10, michigan 3 Sports Writer ning back Vincent Smith in the Zeke Motta recorded six tackles 4 Brandon Gibbons 33-yard field goal Notre Dame end zone with 51 and a pass breakup in the win. Against a team that has found seconds left in the first quarter After keeping Michigan State 13:10 remaining about every possible way to beat to begin the stretch. Two inter- and Michigan out of the end zone Drive: 14 plays, 42 yards, 7:40 elapsed Notre Dame over the past three ceptions by Irish senior line- in consecutive weeks, the Irish years, one with a dynamic threat backer Manti Te’o and one each defense is off to one of the best Notre Dame 13, michigan 3 on offense, the No. 11 Irish put from junior cornerback Bennett starts in program history. The Kyle Brindza 39-yard field goal forth a stellar defensive perfor- Jackson and freshman corner- 36 points allowed through four 6:46 remaining mance to capture a 13-6 win back KeiVarae Russell continued games are the fewest allowed by Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 6:24 elapsed Saturday. the defensive assault. Notre Dame during such a stretch The same Michigan and the Notre Dame’s ability to turn the since 1975. Before Saturday, Notre Notre Dame 13, michigan 6 same Denard Robinson that have Wolverines over was the result of Dame had not allowed six points Brandon Gibbons 31-yard field goal run, passed and done whatever a game plan different from those or less to a top-20 opponent since 3:27 remaining else they wanted to against the employed in previous matchups 1943. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 3:19 elapsed Irish in recent history were left with Michigan, Kelly said. “Look, when you limit without an answer. “We got into a lot more zone Michigan and Michigan State to Notre Dame (4-0) held No. 18 [coverage], which we knew if we no touchdowns, the significance Michigan to 299 yards and forced got into more zone we could be is it’s not just about one player,” statistics the Wolverines (2-2) into six turn- more susceptible to some of the Kelly said. “It’s 11 players brought overs, while keeping them out of runs [by Robinson], but we han- into a scheme. … I mean, that’s the end zone for the first time in dled ourselves very well,” he said. a great feeling to have when you Rushing yards the rivalry matchup since 1943. Jackson also pounced on a know your defense is playing at 161 “Defensively, what can I say, six Robinson fumble early in the sec- that level.” 94 turnovers, limited what we felt is ond half for Notre Dame’s sixth But the early performances one of the most dynamic offen- and final takeaway. For Notre represent substantial steps Passing yards sive players in the country to no Dame’s secondary, the red-letter of progress, not the ultimate 138 touchdowns,” Irish coach Brian day established the back end’s achievement, Jackson said. 145 Kelly said. “[It was] just an incred- ability to keep up with Notre “We are trying to be the best ible performance by our defense.” Dame’s much-hyped front seven. defense in the nation and we are Time of Possession Time of Possession On a night when the Irish of- “I think we wanted to make going to keep working at that,” he fense struggled to move the ball certain that we were going to be said. 33:19 26:41 consistently and put points on able to support our front seven in Te’o, the emotional leader of the board, Notre Dame’s defense the back end of the defense, and I the defense, said the unit’s high harassed Robinson, made plays think after tonight, we all feel that standards means the ceiling is on the back end and brought we’ve got some young guys back the limit. Passing Robinson 13-24-138 Rees 8-11-115 down more interceptions in the there that can play at a high level,” “I think, for us, we are trying Smith 0-1-0 Golson 3-8-30 first half than during any full Kelly said. to not let [the offense] get any game since 1988. Never was Notre Sophomore safety Matthias points,” he said. “I think, you Dame’s control over Michigan’s Farley was forced into the start- know, when your defense is dis- Rushing aerial assault more noticeable ing role against Michigan after a appointed that they kicked a field Robinson 26-90 Riddick 17-52 than when the Irish intercepted season-ending injury to graduate goal and made it, that’s when you Toussaint 13-61 Wood 7-39 five straight pass attempts in a student safety Jamoris Slaughter. know, like, ‘Dang, we are going to Gallon 2-13 Atkinson 4-4 span stretching from the final The first-time starter was just one be good.’ ” minute of the first quarter to the of the highlights in Notre Dame’s Receiving final play of the first half. secondary, as Jackson added nine Contact Joseph Monardo at Gardner 3-40 Riddick 5-32 Freshman safety Nicky Baratti tackles to his interception and [email protected] Gallon 3-33 Daniels 3-40 Roundtree 3-30 Jones 2-35 Funchess 2-11 Eifert 1-38 Robinson struggles in loss Tackles Kovacs 7 Jackson 9 By JOSEPH MONARDO Robinson rushed 26 times for passes in a single game since Morgan 7 Te’o 8 Sports Writer only 90 yards, with a longest Irish linebacker Maurice Crum Gordon 6 Spond 7 rush of 20 yards. In 2010 and 2011 did so against UCLA in 2007. Demens 6 Motta 6 The Irish defense forced against Notre Dame, Robinson After entering his final season Ryan 5 Lewis-Moore 6 Michigan senior quarterback racked up 969 total yards. with no career picks, Te’o has Floyd 5 Calabrese 5 Denard Robinson into four inter- three through four games. Te’o Campbell 4 Fox 4 ceptions and one fumble while Te’o continues star career ranks second in the nation in ca- Washington 3 Day 3 also sacking him three times. Irish senior linebacker Manti reer tackles with 362, averaging Roh 3 Nix 3 Robinson accumulated just Te’o recorded eight tackles, in- 8.2 per game. Te’o trails only Ball 138 yards through the air on 13- cluding one tackle for loss, in State senior linebacker Travis INTERCEPTIONs for-24 passing, never complet- Saturday’s win. Te’o added two Freeman’s 378 career tackles. Taylor 1 Te’o 2 ing a pass longer than 20 yards. interceptions, as well. Gordon 1 Russell 1 The Irish also held the quarter- He is the first Notre Dame Contact Joseph Monardo at Baratti 1 back in check on the ground. linebacker to intercept multiple [email protected] Jackson 1 4 The observer | Monday, September 24, 2012| ndsmcobserver.com Insider

ALEX PARTAK | The Observer Senior linebacker Manti Te’o hits Michigan senior running back Vincent Smith as Smith throws a pass during Notre Dame’s 13-6 win over Michigan on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Irish freshman safety Nicky Baratti, not pictured, intercepted Smith’s pass. The interception marked the first of six Wolverine turnovers.

The Irish stifled Michigan and senior quarterback Denard Rob- inson after falling to Robinson’s Wolverines each of the past two third time’s seasons. Senior linebacker Manti Te’o had another big game for Notre Dame, racking up eight tackles and picking off two passes the charm as the Irish held Michigan out of the end zone. The win over Mich- igan pushed the Irish into the top 10 for the first time since 2006.

KIRBY McKENNA | The Observer KARLA MORENO | The Observer ALEX PARTAK | The Observer Junior quarterback Tommy Rees throws a pass. Rees fin- Notre Dame gathers before its win over Michigan, which Sophomore defensive end Stephon Tuitt, left, corrals ished the game 8-for-11 with 115 yards. made the Irish 4-0 for the first time since 2002. Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson.

KARLA MORENO | The Observer ALEX PARTAK | The Observer Junior quarterback Tommy Rees avoids a Michigan defender on his way to scoring the Senior running back Theo Riddick tries to fight off a Michigan tackler and finished the game’s only touchdown. The score was the first rushing touchdown of Rees’ career. game with 17 carries for 52 yards. He also had five catches for 32 yards.