Stanford Tops Notre Dame
FIRST QUARTER: Notre Dame 7, Stanford 0
Top moment: Notre Dame junior quarterback DeShone Kizer kept on a read option and ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:57 left in the first quarter. It gave the Irish at 7-0 lead.
Stats: Notre Dame got off to a hot start on the ground, running for 67 yards in the first quarter. After a quick three-and-out offensively on their first drive, Kizer led the Irish on a six-play, 74-yard drive. Senior running back Tarean Folston, who missed the previous two games with an ankle injury, had 27 yards in the opening quarter.
Items: Senior Hunter Bivin made the start at right guard in place of senior Colin McGovern. McGovern has been dealing with an ankle injury. Freshman Kevin Stepherson started the game at the X-receiver spot, while senior Torii Hunter Jr. was at slot. Junior defensive lineman Jonathan Bonner forced his second career fumble during the second Stanford drive of the first quarter. Freshman cornerback Julian Love had his first career fumble recovery.
SECOND QUARTER: Notre Dame 10, Stanford 0
Top moment: Facing second-and-10 from the Notre Dame 38, Stanford quarterback Ryan Burns was intercepted by Irish senior cornerback Cole Luke. The interception ended the Cardinal scoring threat.
Stats: The Irish outgained the Cardinal 187-172 in the first half. Notre Dame went over 100 yards rushing, tallying 108 on the ground. Stanford was 3-for-6 on third down, while Notre Dame was 2-of-6. Kizer was 6-for-11 for 79 yards in the first half.
Items: Kizer was the team’s leading rusher in the first half, carrying seven times for 75 yards. He had a career-long 49-yard carry in the second quarter. Notre Dame drove 65 yards on 14 plays in the second quarter, and sophomore kicker Justin Yoon made a 29-yard field goal to extend the Irish lead to 10-0.
THIRD QUARTER: Notre Dame 10, Stanford 9
Top moment: Kizer was intercepted on the opening drive of the second half by Stanford’s Quenton Meeks. Meeks returned the pick for a touchdown, which cut the Irish lead to 10-7.
Stats: Notre Dame was outgaining Stanford 242-225 through three quarters. The Irish had 55 yards in the third quarter, and Kizer was picked off twice.
Items: Kizer was replaced by senior quarterback Malik Zaire on the third drive of the second half. Stanford added to its scoring when Notre Dame junior center Sam Mustipher’s shotgun snap got by Zaire, sailing out of the end zone for a safety to make it 10-9 ND. Notre Dame junior linebacker Greer Martini sacked Burns on a third-down play, his second sack of the game.
FOURTH QUARTER: Stanford 17, Notre Dame 10
Top moment: Stanford stopped DeShone Kizer on fourth-and-10 from the Stanford 14-yard line, giving the Cardinal the win.
Stats: Notre Dame finished with 307 total yards on 64 plays, while Stanford gained 296 yards on 60 plays. Kizer finished 14 of 26 passing for 154 yards and two interceptions. He ran 11 times for 83 yards and a TD. Folston was Notre Dame's top RB, carrying eight times for 49 yards. Torii Hunter Jr. was the top receiver with four catches for 70 yards.
Items: Notre Dame made it interesting late, driving into the red zone with under a minute left, but protection repeatedly broke down and Kizer had nowhere to go.