Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Luck of the Irish: John O'Farrell and Notre Dame (TCY/FOF)

Big Six · 01-15-2010, 06:51 PM

Week 6: Notre Dame 45, Western Michigan 23

In the days before the game, the Irish received more bad news from the team’s medical staff. Senior WR Jackie Blanchard, whose career had been plagued by injuries since he arrived in South Bend, learned he had a degenerative hip condition that would end his season and, most likely, his career. The Irish, even without Blanchard, had no problems with the outmanned Chippewas, who had lost four of their first five games. Oscar Sowers (124 yards, two TDs) and Billy Joe Lang (62 yards) split the tailback chores, and both played well. Junior Turnbull and Nathan Brodhead both looked good at quarterback, with Brodhead hitting TE Kurt Carpenter for a TD pass. Unfortunately, Turnbull sprained his wrist badly, and was expected to miss up to seven weeks. Now the Irish would be forced to play without their leading passer, rusher, and receiver.

Week 7: Notre Dame 44, Temple 10

A sellout crowd was treated to a big Fighting Irish win on a beautiful autumn Saturday in South Bend. In a performance reminiscent of last year, the ND defense smothered the Owls, while the offense produced on the ground and in the air. QB Nathan Brodhead was nearly perfect in his first start for Notre Dame (15-17, 207 yards, 2 TD), connecting with Courtney Cadrez twice for scores and scrambling for a touchdown himself. Oscar Sowers darted for a career-high 188 yards and two touchdowns. Safety Norbert Bensen scored on a 26-yard interception return.

Week 8: #21 Notre Dame 56, Navy 17

The Midshipmen were, once again, no match for Notre Dame. Four Irish running backs—Kyle Chandler, Billy Joe Lang, Myron Drauch, and Oscar Sowers—ran for touchdowns; Sowers scored twice. Kicker Blaine Allen shook off the effects of a lingering quad strain to boot eight extra points without missing. Twenty-four Notre Dame players recorded at least one tackle. MVP honors went to WR Isaac Leiter, who caught eight Nathan Brodhead passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 9: #19 Notre Dame 45, Brigham Young 20

Who would have thought that the Fighting Irish offense would bust loose, with three of its leading playmakers on the sidelines? For the fourth consecutive game, the Irish scored at least 40 points, as Nathan Brodhead ran his record as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback to 3-0. Brodhead completed 24 of 28 attempts for 365 yards, and threw TD passes to RB Billy Joe Lang and freshman WR Mickey Washington. Lang rushed for 109 yards and ran for two more scores, and Oscar Sowers rushed for 2 TDs for the fourth straight game. Renaldo Samuels led the defense with 2.5 sacks.

Notre Dame's record: 6-2.

01-15-2010, 06:51 PM	#62
Big Six High School Varsity Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia	Week 6: Notre Dame 45, Western Michigan 23 In the days before the game, the Irish received more bad news from the team’s medical staff. Senior WR Jackie Blanchard, whose career had been plagued by injuries since he arrived in South Bend, learned he had a degenerative hip condition that would end his season and, most likely, his career. The Irish, even without Blanchard, had no problems with the outmanned Chippewas, who had lost four of their first five games. Oscar Sowers (124 yards, two TDs) and Billy Joe Lang (62 yards) split the tailback chores, and both played well. Junior Turnbull and Nathan Brodhead both looked good at quarterback, with Brodhead hitting TE Kurt Carpenter for a TD pass. Unfortunately, Turnbull sprained his wrist badly, and was expected to miss up to seven weeks. Now the Irish would be forced to play without their leading passer, rusher, and receiver. Week 7: Notre Dame 44, Temple 10 A sellout crowd was treated to a big Fighting Irish win on a beautiful autumn Saturday in South Bend. In a performance reminiscent of last year, the ND defense smothered the Owls, while the offense produced on the ground and in the air. QB Nathan Brodhead was nearly perfect in his first start for Notre Dame (15-17, 207 yards, 2 TD), connecting with Courtney Cadrez twice for scores and scrambling for a touchdown himself. Oscar Sowers darted for a career-high 188 yards and two touchdowns. Safety Norbert Bensen scored on a 26-yard interception return. Week 8: #21 Notre Dame 56, Navy 17 The Midshipmen were, once again, no match for Notre Dame. Four Irish running backs—Kyle Chandler, Billy Joe Lang, Myron Drauch, and Oscar Sowers—ran for touchdowns; Sowers scored twice. Kicker Blaine Allen shook off the effects of a lingering quad strain to boot eight extra points without missing. Twenty-four Notre Dame players recorded at least one tackle. MVP honors went to WR Isaac Leiter, who caught eight Nathan Brodhead passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Week 9: #19 Notre Dame 45, Brigham Young 20 Who would have thought that the Fighting Irish offense would bust loose, with three of its leading playmakers on the sidelines? For the fourth consecutive game, the Irish scored at least 40 points, as Nathan Brodhead ran his record as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback to 3-0. Brodhead completed 24 of 28 attempts for 365 yards, and threw TD passes to RB Billy Joe Lang and freshman WR Mickey Washington. Lang rushed for 109 yards and ran for two more scores, and Oscar Sowers rushed for 2 TDs for the fourth straight game. Renaldo Samuels led the defense with 2.5 sacks. Notre Dame's record: 6-2. Last edited by Big Six : 01-15-2010 at 06:52 PM.