Tuesday, October 25, 2011 The Observer | ndsmcobserver.com Notre Dame 17, USC 31 ‘Crazy Train’ derailed Despite raucous Notre Dame Stadium, Irish drop to 4-3 with 31-17 loss to USC By SAM GANS Sports Writer With Notre Dame’s biggest rival coming to town, the first home night game since 1990 and the debuts of brand-new gold Irish helmets and piped- in stadium music, the stage was set for one of the most an- ticipated games in Notre Dame Stadium in years. But it was USC who finished with more points for the ninth time in 10 seasons, walking out of South Bend with a 31-17 victory. The Trojans (6-1) got off to a fast start against the Irish (4-3) by forcing a Notre Dame three-and-out on the game’s first drive. USC then marched 66 yards on its opening pos- session, which culminated with junior quarterback Matt Barkley finding freshman tight end Randall Telfer alone in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 6:16 re- maining in the first quarter. After another Irish three- and-out, Barkley again drove the Trojans down the field and connected with sopho- more receiver Robert Woods on a 3-yard strike to push the USC margin to 14-0, leaving the once-frenzied crowd in a stunned silence. The first 15 minutes ended at that score, with USC hold- KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer ing a 128-14 advantage in total Irish senior receiver Michael Floyd walks off the field during Notre Dame’s 31-17 loss to USC on Saturday night. Floyd struggled yards, leaving a disappoint- Saturday, catching just four passes for 28 yards as part of a feeble Irish attack. ing taste in the mouths of the Irish, who had two weeks to red zone, but the drive stalled game’s biggest turning point. USC senior linebacker Chris USC also limited Irish senior prepare after a bye week. there and a 25-yard field On third-and-goal and just Galippo. The ball was ruled to receiver Michael Floyd to just “We had time off, we had goal from senior kicker Da- one yard away from tying the be a backwards lateral by the four catches for 28 yards. But time to rest and we played vid Ruffer sent the Irish into game, a Crist fumbled snap officials and was therefore a according to Kelly, that was sluggish,” Irish junior tight halftime with a seven-point was batted around and then fumble, resulting in USC pos- mostly due to Irish miscues. end Tyler Eifert said. “You deficit. picked up by USC junior safety session. “We were out of sync,” Kel- can’t come out and play like Despite scoring the final 10 Jawanza Starling, who re- “We thought we were past ly said. “We had Mike two or that. It cost us in the end.” points of the half, in the first turned it 80 yards to put USC that,” Kelly said. “That’s the three times and we didn’t con- USC appeared to be ful- 30 minutes the Irish were out- up 24-10. toughest part is when you nect with him.” ly in control of the contest gained 253-127 and nearly “Dayne went right in,” Irish think you’ve moved past that With Notre Dame’s pre- when freshman kicker Andre doubled in time of possession. coach Brian Kelly said. “[He] kind of self-inflicted wounds, season goal of playing in a Heidari booted a 25-yard field “Our guys came in and just did a nice job, moved us down to come back and have those BCS game likely out of reach goal late in the second quarter wanted to make sure that we there … and then we had the hit you again, it’s disappoint- now, Kelly is focused on mak- to put the Trojans up 17-0. But played really well and didn’t fumbled snap.” ing.” ing sure the Irish are ready for Irish freshman running back worry about everything else,” For what seemingly was a Barkley, who finished the the next game against Navy on George Atkinson returned the USC coach Lane Kiffin said. “It back-breaking play, the Irish day 24-for-35 for 224 yards, Saturday and not mulling over ensuing kickoff for a touch- was good to see, because usu- responded strongly. With Rees three touchdowns and zero long-term possibilities. down, bringing the stadium ally young teams don’t do well back in the game, Notre Dame interceptions, put the icing “The fact of the matter is, back to life and pulling Notre in the beginning of games in quickly moved into USC ter- on the cake by finding a div- they have got to play Navy Dame within 10 points. this type of environment, so it ritory and again came within ing Woods near the back pylon and they have to get ready in “Whenever a big play on spe- was good to see.” one score as senior running of the end zone on a 14-yard a short period of time,” Kelly cial teams occurs, you hope to The second half started out back Jonas Gray ran 25 yards play to put the Trojans up 31- said. “We didn’t think in big spark the whole team,” Atkin- as a different story as Notre into the end zone with 14:07 17 with 7:47 left in the game. picture terms. I’ll talk to [the son said. “I think that hap- Dame forced a USC punt and remaining in the fourth quar- Notre Dame tried to mount media] in big picture terms. pened coming out.” proceeded to move the ball ter. Following a missed 32- one final rally, but USC soph- But [the team], all they know It appeared the momentum down the field, looking for the yard field goal attempt from omore cornerback Nickell is Monday is not going to be a had shifted, as the Irish de- tying score, until Rees was USC’s Heidari, Notre Dame Robey intercepted Rees with great place to be around me. fense was able to get a stop on knocked out of the game with had the ball with 80 yards to 6:43 remaining. The Irish nev- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs- the next drive, allowing Notre a knee injury. But senior and go and 9:13 on the clock to tie er got the ball back. day — that’s what they are Dame to take over possession former starter Dayne Crist the game. The win was a dominating thinking about. They are not with just under two minutes stepped in at the quarterback But on the second play of effort by the Trojans, who fin- thinking about those bigger remaining in the half. Sopho- position and effectively went the drive, junior running ished the game with a 443-267 picture items.” more quarterback Tommy 4-for-5, marching Notre Dame back Cierre Wood dropped a advantage in yards and had Rees was able to successfully down to the USC 1-yard line. pass from Rees in the back- the ball for 39:41 of the game’s Contact Sam Gans at take the Irish offense to the Then came perhaps the field, which was fallen on by 60 minutes. [email protected] player of the game stat of the game play of the game quote of the game Robert Woods 14 first quarter yards Jawanza Starling’s 80-yard fumble “We had time off, we had time Notre Dame running back return for a touchdown to rest and we played sluggish. You can’t come out and play like Woods delivered on all of Notre Dame managed just 14 The Irish were on the verge of that. It cost us in the end.” his pregame hype, hauling yards of offense in the first tying the game when Starling in 12 catches for 119 yards quarter as the Irish fell behind the returned a fumbled snap 80 Tyler Eifert and two touchdowns. Trojans 14-0 to start the game. yards to put the game away. Notre Dame tight end page 2 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u IRISH INSIDER Tuesday, October 25, 2011 report card quarterbacks: Tommy Rees showed signs of life in the second half, but over- all it was a rough day for the gunsling- D+ ers, who committed two devastating turnovers that killed any hope. running backs: It was an abysmal night for Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray, who mustered just 43 combined yards. Wood D- only had five yards, and Gray’s 25-yard score was the only positive moment. receivers: Tyler Eifert is developing into an elite tight end, but for the rest of the receiving corps, it was a rough night. C- Michael Floyd especially struggled — and no one picked up the slack. offensive line: They may not have al- lowed a sack, but 41 rushing yards is a mortifyingly low total. Much of the D+ shortfall in the rushing game was caused by the USC defensive line. defensive line: The defensive line got flat-out bullied by the Trojan front all night long. USC ran roughshod over D the Irish, and Matt Barkley was rarely pressured. linebackers: Manti Te’o played well, as usual. But linebackers were missing assignments and tackles all across the C- field, and Carlo Calabrese’s personal- foul penalty really cost Notre Dame. defensive backs: Except for when he was matched up against Robert Blan- ton, USC’s Robert Woods had an abso- D+ lute field day against the generally dis- KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer organized secondary.