South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Everett Golson struggled with the cold,
wet elements at Notre Dame Stadium for 57 minutes.
But not the final three.
Golson tossed a go-ahead 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Koyack on fourth down
with 61 seconds remaining and No. 9 Notre Dame beat No. 14 Stanford 17-14 on
Saturday.
Golson, who set a Notre Dame (5-0) record with 25 straight completions during
a 31-15 win over Syracuse last Saturday, wasn’t as accurate in this one.
He skipped throws, overthrew some open receivers and threw behind targets,
finishing 20-of-43 for 241 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and a
lost fumble.
Despite all that, Golson still found a way to drive the Fighting Irish down
the field for the winning score to help Notre Dame go 5-0 for just the third
time in the last 21 seasons.
The deciding Irish touchdown came after Remound Wright’s 11-yard touchdown
scamper gave Stanford a 14-10 lead with 3:01 left.
Golson hit William Fuller for an 11-yard completion and then fired a 17-yard
pass to Corey Robinson on a 3rd-and-10 to put the ball at the Stanford 37.
Golson then underthrew Fuller, who broke free behind the secondary and in the
end zone, but Stanford was called for pass interference.
Faced with a 3rd-and-7, Golson lost four yards after running into one of his
offensive linemen on a quarterback draw to set up a 4th-and-11. Koyack,
though, was left unaccounted for in the back left corner of the end zone and
Golson found him right before safety Jordan Richards got there. Koyack was
able to get his feet down to put Notre Dame in front.
Stanford (3-2) drove to the Notre Dame 49, but Kevin Hogan was called for
intentional grounding on the final play of the game.
The Irish were able to overcome two turnovers and a pair of bobbled snaps by
holding Stanford to 205 total yards and forcing nine three-and-outs on 15
possessions.
Notre Dame’s offense, meanwhile, totaled 370 yards against the nation’s top
defense.
Chris Brown caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown, Cam McDaniel
carried the ball 15 times for 41 yards and Golson added 34 yards on seven
carries in the win.
Hogan was 18-of-36 for 158 yards with two interceptions and Devon Cajuste
caught five passes for 68 yards for Stanford, which hasn’t recorded two losses
this early in a season since 2008.
Turnovers on back-to-back plays led to the game’s first score.
Right after Cole Luke intercepted Hogan on 3rd-and-12 at the Irish 43, Golson
took off on a quarterback keeper along the right edge. Ronnie Harris put a big
hit on him to pry the ball loose and Kyle Olugbode recovered the ball at the
Notre Dame 12.
Hogan’s 10-yard TD run up the middle at the 3:50 mark of the opening frame
staked Stanford to a 7-0 lead.
Golson broke off a 33-yard run on a 3rd-and-10 before Brown hauled in a
crossing route and walked in for a 17-yard score to cap a 6-play, 62-yard
drive to tie the game late in the first half.
The third time was a charm for holder Hunter Smith after he bobbled two prior
snaps on field-goal attempts. He put on a pair of gloves and Kyle Brindza
split the uprights from 45 yards out midway through the fourth to give the
Irish a 10-7 lead.
After Ty Montgomery returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards, Hogan tossed a 23-
yard completion to Cajuste on a 3rd-and-8 and Wright darted up the middle for
a 14-10 Stanford cushion three plays later.
Game Notes
Notre Dame hasn’t allowed a point in the third quarter this season … The
Irish have won 16 of their last 17 games at home … Stanford was 5-of-16 on
third down, while Notre Dame finished 6-of-18.
