The #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn't exactly impress on Saturday, but they got the job done thanks to some opportunistic defense in a 28-7 home win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Here's some notes, quotes and observations from the day in South Bend.
Game Notes:
Irish RB Josh Adams broke off a 98-yard touchdown run in the second quarter -- the longest scoring play from scrimmage in Notre Dame history. It was also the longest rushing play in Notre Dame history, besting Bob Livingstone's 92-yard scamper against USC back in 1947.
Wake Forest punter Alex Kinal had three punts on Saturday, breaking the NCAA record for career punts with 323. The previous mark was set by Cal's Nick Harris, who had 322 from 1997-2000.
Notre Dame was held under 400 yards total offense for the first time all season. Wake Forest actually outgained them, 340-283, but the Demon Deacons couldn't cash in on three key red-zone opportunities.
Quotes:
"Physical, explosive. ... Just a terrific run." -- Irish coach Brian Kelly on Josh Adams' record-setting touchdown run.
"In a lot of ways, we outplayed them," Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson said of the team's effort.
"We feel like we would have (C.J. Prosise) for next week." -- Brian Kelly on why he held his leading rusher out of Saturday's game.
"We beat ourselves," Dave Clawson said of his team's failure to convert on key opportunities.
Observations:
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played their worst game of the season on offense and still took down Wake Forest by 21 in South Bend. If the College Football Playoff committee is really reading between the lines with their rankings, they may give Notre Dame extra points for beating a team by three touchdowns which thoroughly outplayed them for long stretches of Saturday's game. That, or they'll dock Brian Kelly's squad for struggling and our theory will me nothing.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson isn't mentioned in the same breath as other coaches who may be on the hot seat, but he is just 6-16 overall winding down his second season with the program. Clawson appears to have the backing of the athletic department right now, but Wake Forest has a really good chance of going 3-9 for a second straight year with games against #1 Clemson and Duke remaining...
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