GAME PREVIEW
This would mark the Cougars 2nd trip to South Bend and the 3rd meeting of these 2 teams in the past 9 seasons. The last time WSU made the trip to South Bend was in 2003 when they took a lead into the 4th Quarter before losing the game 29-26 over some horrific calls.
Even though none of the players or coaching staff is still around, the game tape was played by Coach Dodge all week to help give some extra "MO" to his team and staff.
THE GAME RECAP
The first half was full of big plays and big hits. The Irish started strong with QB A. Hendriks completing 4/6 passes before 47 yds before being helped off the field with a ankle injury (broken 10 weeks). SR Nate Montana (son of legendary Joe Montana and brother of Washington Huskies Starting QB Nick) would struggle as the Irish were forced to punt. Jeff Tuell would lead the offense onto the field and led 2 Touchdown drives (6 yd pass to R. Jiles and 6 yd pass to T McCoy) before also being forced to leave the game. Conner Haliday would enter and prove he too could play some ball, hitting R. Jiles for his 2nd TD to give WSU the 21-0 lead with 2 minutes to play. After another huge stop by the Cougar "D" Halliday would lead the Cougars down the field looking to add yet another TD, but the Irish would come up big stopping the drive and with 2 seconds to play, Coach Dodge would run out R. Parrish for his 1st college FG attemp. The Freshman would hit the 19 yd kick to give WSU the 24-0 lead into the half.
Montana would finally find his grove in the 3rd Quarter hitting A. Welch on a 10 yd TD pass, and then hit Welch again on the 2pt conversion to make it 24-8. Haliday however would struggle throwing 2 INT's but the "D" would step up keeping the Irish from scoring again as well.
The 4th Quarter started out all Irish as C. Wood scored 2 TD's on the ground (8 yds and 24 yds) to make the game (24-21) after a failed 2pt conversion. With Haliday struggling, the Cougs would go to the ground and C. Winston would deliver breaking off a 52 yd TD run with 2 minutes as the 5,000 fans who traveled went wild. (31-21). Montana would complete 3/3 passes moving the offense down field, but the Cougar D would finally step up forcing the Irish with a decsion to go for it on 4th and 4 and Simmons would show his pass deflecting abilities coming up huge forcing the turnover. Again looking to run out the clock, Haliday would hand of to Winston, but again the RS JR would break off a huge run going 40 yds before getting tackled from behind. With 20 seconds left on the clock, most assumed the Cougs would just kneel down, but Coach Dodge instead ran out the field goal unit as R. Parrish would connect on the 24 yd kick as time expired.
FINAL SCORE WSU-34 ND-21
KEY PLAYERS
QB J. Tuell-9/14 120 yds 2 TD
QB C. Haliday-15/23 196 yds 1 TD 3 INT
RB C. Winston-24 carries 150 yds (6.2 avg) 1 TD, (1 Fumble)
RB R. Mayfield 11 carries 36 yds (3.2 avg)
RB P. Smith 2 carries 3 yds (1 fumble)
WR I. Barton-12 rec 205 yds
R T. McCoy-5 rec 51 yds 1 TD
WR R. Jiles-4 rec 39 yds 2 TD
DE S. Kaufus-2 sacks
CB D. Simmons-3 Pass Deflections
QB N. Montana-10/19 134 yds 1 TD
RB C. Wood-9 carries 68 yds 2 TD
POST GAME COMMENTS BY COACH DODGE
"It's not everyday a team can overcome 5 turnovers and still win the game. The game ball goes to our "D" tonight. They played amazing. Even though we didn't create any turnovers of our own, they did a great job of making big plays when needed. I know most of you want to know what's going on with J. Tuell, and from what the trainers have told me he has 3 broken ribs which will keep him out 3-4 weeks. Conner will start but we will prepare Roland to be ready in case something happens."