vs.
#17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #24 Michigan State Spartans
Live from Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mi
Today’s Key matchup is ND QB Jamaal Nichols against MSU’s secondary
Notre Dame is favored by 14
1st quarter
• The Spartans score on their 1st drive, converting a 4th down for a touchdown…11 plays/66 yards…7-0 MSU
• Our first drive goes 3 and out
• Michigan St misses a FG on their next possession
• On a 3rd and long, Jamaal Reynolds hits Morten Donnalley for a 42 yard touchdown….7-7 tie
2nd quarter
• Morten Donnelley makes his 2nd catch of the game, in the endzone, to give Notre Dame a 14-7 lead
• State return man Garry Mularkey returns a punt 84 yards for a TD….14-14
• Our next drive stalls at the 4……we settle for a 23 yard field goal….17-14 Notre Dame
• MSU safety Holcombe forces the first turnover of the season, intercepting a Jamaal Nichols pass
• The Spartans run the 2 minute drill to perfection……resulting in a TD…and 21-17 lead at the half
3rd Quarter
• 3rd play of the half, Nichols freezes the D with a play action fake, and hits KaRon Ridlehuber in stride, for a 75 yard TD….24-21 ND
• ND starting CB Goodwin leaves the game with a groin injury
• MSU answers right back with a drive highlighted by a 49 yard reception by TE Mickey Baker…….28-24 MSU
• With 2:34 remaining in the 3rd quarter, ND has a 4th and 3 from the MSU 4 yard line….down by 4, I decide to take the risk and go for it
• Zach Woodall gains 1 yard, and the ball is turned over at the 3
4th quarter
• Nichols throws his 2nd interception of the game early in the quarter
• ND LB Lethon Hayman picks off the next MSU pass, and the Irish are back in business
• Another 4th and goal decision….this time I kick the field goal…28-27 MSU
• Chidi Carr intercepts MSU backup QB McCormick, giving the Irish possession at mid field, with 7 minutes left
• MSU forces a punt, and we get the ball back with 1:12 remaining, down by 1
• On 3rd and long, Morten Donnalley makes a play, gaining 33 yards to the MSU 46, and stepping out of bounds…all 3 timeouts remain
• On 3rd down, Nichols is sacked at the 43; we are forced to use our final timeout. I hope there’s a hail marry play
• Nichols dumps it off, and the game ends….Looks like I cost the team the game with that 4th down gamble.
Final: Michigan St 28, Notre Dame 27