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USC Beats Notre Dame, 45-27

Sam Darnold throws a pass against Notre Dame.
Sam Darnold throws a pass against Notre Dame. (Bill Panzica)

FIRST QUARTER: USC 10, Notre Dame 7

Top moment: USC running back Ronald Jones ran for a 51-yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Trojans with 7:08 left in the first quarter.

Stats: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer was 3-of-3 passing for 25 yards in the first quarter. Running back Josh Adams had 96 yards on four carries. USC quarterback Sam Darnold was 9-of-12 for 61 yards. Jones had 72 yards on five carries and a TD.

Items: USC’s Matt Boermeester opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal with 10:22 left in the first quarter. Notre Dame responded with a quick TD drive, sparked by a 74-yard run by Adams to the 1-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER: USC 24, Notre Dame 7

Top moment: USC’s Ajene Harris returned a Kizer interception 33 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a 24-7 lead.

Stats: The Irish were outgained 239-192 in the first half (147-122 on the ground). Kizer was 6-of-13 for 70 yards in the first half. Darnold was 12-of-19 for 92 yards. Adams had 133 yards on nine carries in the first half. Junior Corey Holmes was targeted six times in the first half and had one catch for 11 yards. He was targeted 10 times in the first 11 games combined.

Items: Notre Dame ran 21 plays for 70 yards in the second quarter, allowed a pick six, punt return score and missed a field goal. ND’s Jarron Jones had five tackles and one TFL in the first half. USC’s Adoree Jackson returned a punt 55 yards for a TD to make it 17-7 Trojans with 1:24 left in the half.

THIRD QUARTER: USC 38, Notre Dame 21

Top moment: USC’s Jackson returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to extend the Trojans lead to 38-21.

Stats: Notre Dame was outgaining USC 351-337 through three quarters, including a 158-157 advantage on the ground. Kizer was 15-of-26 for two touchdowns and one interception and 189 yards. Darnold was 16-of-25 for 180 yards and one touchdown. Adams had 15 carries for 171 yards.

Items: Notre Dame’s Chris Finke caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Kizer on the opening drive of the second half to cut the USC lead to 24-14. On the ensuing drive, Jackson took a Darnold pass 52 yards for a TD. With 1:01 left in the quarter, ND’s Kevin Stepherson caught a 29-yard touchdown.

FOURTH QUARTER: USC 45, Notre Dame 27

Top moment: Notre Dame’s Equanimeous St. Brown caught a 15-yard TD from Malik Zaire with 1:02 left.

Stats: USC outgained 412-408, including a 207-154 advantage on the ground. Kizer finished 17 for 32 passing for 220 yards and two TDs. Adams ran for 180 yards on 17 carries. USC’s Darnold finished the game 19-of-29 for 205 yards and two touchdowns and was taken out of the game with about 8 minutes left.

Items: Notre Dame safety Nicco Fertitta was ejected for targeting early in the fourth quarter, negating a forced fumble. Sophomore defensive tackles Jerry Tillery was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after he stepped on a USC lineman after a touchdown with 9:40 left.

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