Posted on 12/04/2008 5:47:47 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
but the combined passing and running brought the edge to Troy by 151 yards to 132.
In the first period the Irish drove from midfield to the Trojan 22, but lost the ball on downs as the Trojan aerial defense swamped the Irish passers.
Early in the second quarter Notre Dame’s Morrison fumbled and Gaspar got the ball on the Irish 21, but two plays later the Trojans fumbled and Morrison recovered. Rocking back and forth, Troy steamed up a drive of 53 yards that carried to the Irish 16, but Gaspar’s try for a field goal from the 25 was wide.
The result left Notre Dame with seven victories in the series and Southern California with five, while one game was tied. Notre Dame’s first chance in eight years for an undefeated, untied season was stopped by Troy’s best team in five years.
An exchange of punts after the opening kick-off set Notre Dame back to its 14. After another kick, the Trojans swung into action from midfield.
Sangster was thrown for a 16-yard loss after a pass had missed completion by inches. Then Sitko returned Lansdell’s punt 12 to the Irish 32.
A 15-yard punt return to midfield was nullified by a holding penalty against Troy and a fumble set the Trojans back farther to their 20. Anderson’s punt was taken by the Irish on their 40. Again Notre Dame had to kick, and Troy took the ball on its 16 this time.
Suddenly Notre Dame completed a pass, Saggau to Zontini, for 24 yards, putting the Irish on the Trojan 27. Notre Dame could pick up only 5 yards, however, and Southern Californian took the ball on the 22, as two passes failed. The first period ended there, scoreless.
The Trojans had to kick again, and the Irish took the ball on their 42. Neither could Notre Dame gain. The visitors punted to the 24 and Anderson’s immediate quick kick set the Irish back to their 28. A break for the Trojans came when Gaspar recovered Morrison’s fumble on the Irish 21.
On the second play thereafter, Morrison recovered a Trojan fumble on his 24. Anderson returned Stevenson’s punt 14 yards to the Irish 41. Troy had to kick but Anderson’s boot went out of bounds on the Notre Dame 29. Troy made its initial first down after the Irish kick when Anderson passed to Jones for 23 to Notre Dame’s 46.
Two smashes by Santa [I think they mean “Banta,” but I like the typo-Homer] put Troy on the Irish 35 and Anderson broke away to the 22 off left tackle. Troy was held on the 16 and Gaspar’s attempted field goal from the 25 was wide by a few feet. Tonelli broke away for 23 yards to the Irish 43, but was thrown back to his 27 trying to pass.
The Irish gambled on fourth down, running the ball, but failed to make a first down and Troy took the ball. With five seconds of the first half to go Day threw a pass to Krueger, who got behind the secondaries and ran to a touchdown. It was a 37 yard gain.
Notre Dame gained 15 yards on the first exchange of punts in the second half, but Day intercepted Saggau’s pass on Troy’s 39. Southern California had to punt from there and Notre Dame swung into action once more, from its 26 this time.
They exchanged punts without materially changing the nip-and-tuck battle. Then Saggau broke loose for 16 yards to midfield. Zontini drove through to the Trojan 41, but the Irish had to punt. The Trojans took the ball on their 19.
Day’s quick kick rolled out on the Irish 42. Notre Dame lost 7 yards in two plays as the quarter ended, with Southern California still in front by 6 points.
Stevenson punted to Troy’s 30 and Day quick kicked the Irish back to their 22. Piepul fumbled and Jones recovered for Troy on the Irish 35. Jones caught Anderson’s pass on the 24 and then Anderson drove to a first down on the 14.
Banta and Anderson advanced to the 3-yard line and Anderson slid over right guard to score. Gaspar kicked the goal, giving Southern California a 13-to-0 lead.
Notre Dame took the next kick-off and ran and passed to the Trojan 28. Saggau’s 21-yard run aided materially. Tonelli plunged his way in three tries to the 15 for another first down. Jones intercepted a pass on his 2-yard line and ran the ball back to his 31 to end the threat.
Failing to gain, Troy punted to the Notre Dame 20. The game ended as another Notre Dame pass was intercepted deep in the Irish territory.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3 (AP). The saddest lads in the country tonight were the Notre Dame football players, the happiest the Trojans of Southern California after their triumph over the Irish.
Coach Elmer Layden of Notre Dame remained closeted with the squad for thirty minutes after the game, delaying the usual press conference as he talked with the boys.
“I would say,” Layden declared, once outside the dressing room, “our effort today, while as fine as any coach has a right to expect, was not up to some of our previous performances. It seemed to me our running attack was less potent than earlier in the season.
Defending decisions made by his quarterback, Layden asserted, “Every man on my team is right in any decision he makes.”
On the opposite side, Coach Howard Jones spoke quietly in praise of his team. “I believe,” he said, “we can promise to do all right against Duke in the Rose Bowl, but that is something else to worry about now.
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