Tag: Braden Lenzy

Fiesta Bowl: Second-Quarter Analysis

We’re one half away from the major bowl skid ending.

Notre Dame might not have dominated the second quarter like it did the majority of the first, but it’s still playing very well. While this is true for practically every football game, this year’s Fiesta Bowl really will come down to who successfully executes more plays. Right now, that’s the Irish as they lead Oklahoma State, 28-14, at halftime.

After forcing the Cowboys to punt in the early moments of the quarter, the Irish went back to work on offense. At that point, they erased any doubt that this virtually would be an all-passing attack from them. Braden Lenzy had most receptions from Jack Coan, but the touchdown would go to Michael Mayer from 16 yards out.

Frustration then took over the game as both teams took turns getting into field-goal range only to have their kickers miss wide right. The Cowboys had some chances for big gains, but passes from Spencer Sanders were either dropped or broken up. No doubt the scoreboard operator at State Farm Stadium was getting a little antsy from not being able to add to the scores.

The Irish had one more chance to get something before halftime. The drive started well enough with a couple of first downs before they were aided by a questionable roughing-the-passer call. A few plays later, a 20-yard completion to Kevin Austin set up first-and-goal. It then took only two plays for Coan to hit Mayer in the end zone from 7 yards out for his second touchdown of the quarter.

The Cowboys also had an opportunity to get points on the board before heading into the locker room. Sanders found Brennan Presley on back-to-back plays for a combined 54 yards before running 12 yards himself to make it first-and-goal. He then hit top receiver Tay Martin for a 9-yard touchdown. The drive had lasted all of 39 seconds.

Every time it seems like the Irish are leaving the Cowboys dead in the water, the Cowboys receive new life. The question now is whether the Irish successfully can go for the kill. Tune into the second half to find out.

The five plays that loomed large in Notre Dame’s win over Stanford

It’s not just about TD and turnovers

It isn’t just scoring plays that make a difference in a game, there are plays inside drive that make them work. This is a recap of those play for the Irish today, as they firmly defeated Stanford 45-14 on the road. Take a look below at the plays that loomed large.

Notre Dame at Stanford: Second-Quarter Analysis

More fun for the Irish.

Notre Dame is treating Stanford like the inferior opponent it is. In fact, the scoreboard is making the game look closer than it should be. The Irish could just go through the motions and probably still have a lead. Whether that’s the case or not, they have a 24-0 lead at halftime.

The Irish began the second quarter by continuing a drive that began in the first. Jack Coan hit Braden Lenzy for a 15-yard completion, then found George Tackas for a 2-yard touchdown. It was Tackas’ first touchdown in two years. Yep, it definitely is that kind of night.

The Cardinal’s first drive of the quarter lasted only two plays because Rylie Mills had a strip-sack of Tanner McKee, and Justin Ademilola recovered the ball after it was bobbled around on the turf a bit. The ensuing drive started at the Cardinal’s 23-yard line, but it was immediately set back by a holding call. The Irish were able to get enough yardage back to allow Jonathan Doerer to come out and kick a 36-yard field goal.

The Cardinal had another in what’s become a series of three-and-outs. Though the Irish took over at their own 25, Coan and the rest of the offense had a perfect mix of run and pass plays to move the ball further frustrate the Cardinal’s defense. Kyren Williams capped the 12-play drive that lasted over five minutes with a 1-yard touchdown run.

The Irish did suffer a setback on the next drive when Bo Bauer was ejected for targeting. Fox color analyst Brock Huard speculated whether watching one of their own be on the receiving end of a targeting might fire the Cardinal up. It looked like that would be the case when McKee threw an apparent touchdown pass to get his team on the board, but the score was nullified by an illegal block that was called at the line of scrimmage. The Cardinal were unable to recover from that, and they ended up punting once again.

The Irish had one final second-quarter possession in which they went three-and-out. The ensuing punt took a bounce into Irish territory, which prompted the Cardinal to attempt a 59-yard field goal with three seconds left. The Irish took a timeout in an attempt to freeze kicker Joshua Karty. We don’t know if that really worked, but while Karty’s kick had the distance, it was wide left, putting the perfect bow on this first half.

Watch: Notre Dame extends lead as Coan find Takacs against Stanford

Coan throws his second TD of the game

The Irish offense didn’t do much during their second drive, gaining just 12-yards and being forced to punt the ball back to Stanford. Their third drive was like their first, ending in a passing touchdown from quarterback Jack Coan.

The key to this drive was a 3rd-and-19 pass play, as Coan found running back Kyren Williams for 15-yards which gave the Irish a shorter fourth down attempt. They would convert that, Coan finding Kevin Austin to move the chains and three plays later would find the end zone. Coan threw his second touchdown of the day, this one to tight end George Takacs as the Irish extended their lead, 14-0 over the Cardinal early in the second quarter.

Notre Dame at Stanford: First-Quarter Analysis

What do you know? The Irish are winning.

Sometimes, you play or cover a game when you know the result practically is a foregone conclusion. Not to get ahead of ourselves after only one quarter, but Notre Dame-Stanford feels like one of those games. Coming in, there wasn’t one area that seemed to give the Irish cause for concern against the Cardinal. That belief still holds up as the Irish have a 7-0 lead.

The Cardinal won the coin toss and opted to receive. It didn’t matter if they got the ball first because they promptly went three-and-out. In contrast, the Irish had little trouble moving the ball as their first offensive drive began with a 33-yard reception by Kevin Austin. From there, Jack Coan and the rest of the unit continued to excel, and Coan capped the drive by throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Braden Lenzy.

The next two drives saw both teams take turns picking up a first down and then punting. The Cardinal then had another three-and-out and…yeah, that seems to be an indicator of what kind of game we have in store. The Irish, meanwhile, converted on a fourth down and then got into the red zone, which is why they’ll have the ball to begin the second quarter. Anyone think this drive won’t end in points?

Watch: Notre Dame strikes first as Coan finds Lenzy against Stanford

Irish up early against Stanford

The Irish came out with some intensity on their first two series of the game. Defensively, the unit was flying around the ball and forced Stanford into a very quick 3-and-out.

When the offense got the ball, immediately quarterback Jack Coan was asked to stretch the field and that’s what he did. The senior found Kevin Austin for a 33-yard play that launched a 5-play, 74-yard scoring drive that lasted just 3 minutes. The final play of the drive saw Coan find another one of his wide receivers, Braden Lenzy for this 16-yard strike for the first score of the game and a 7-0 over the host Stanford.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech: First-Quarter Analysis

This is going great. Like, really great.

If you’re a betting person, putting money on Notre Dame backups receiving a lot of playing time against Georgia Tech might be a safe move. All indications are that senior day at Notre Dame Stadium will go as well as it possibly could. The only question appears to be how much the Irish will win by. That’s how confident Irish fans should be after watching the first quarter and seeing their team take a 24-0 lead.

This game has gone well from the opening kickoff, which Chris Tyree returned for 51 yards into Yellow Jackets territory. That was immediately followed by Jack Coan completing a 38-yard pass to Kevin Austin, putting the ball at the 10-yard line. However, that was as good as the drive got as Coan took sacks on two of the next three plays. Jonathan Doerer got the Irish on the board when he just barely made a 41-yard field goal that cleared the left upright.

The Yellow Jackets got into Irish territory on their first drive, but that’s when the Irish showed the strength of their defense. About to take a sack from Isaiah Foskey, Jordan Yates opted to get the rid of the ball, which was a big mistake. Jack Kiser was right there to take the interception and return the ball 50 yards for his second touchdown of the season. Sometimes, the sack is the best move.

After the Irish’s defense then forced a three-and-out, the offense went out for its second drive and was able to finish what it started this time. The drive nearly stalled out deep in Yellow Jackets territory, but Coan threw a 9-yard pass to Braden Lenzy on fourth-and-2 to get into the red zone. Two plays later, Kyren Williams ran for a 9-yard touchdown. Already, Williams has made a mark in what could be his final game in South Bend.

The Yellow Jackets managed to pick up a first down on their next drive but nothing more. Back on offense, the Irish converted on a third down to keep the game’s next possession going, and that appeared to be it for the first quarter. Instead, Coan then hit an open Michael Mayer for a 52-yard touchdown. Already, the rout is on.

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Watch: Notre Dame extend leads as Coan find Lenzy for TD vs UVA

Lenzy finds pay dirt

The Irish are making sure that the Cavaliers won’t be able to hang with them at home this evening. The defense has been exceptionally good, both of Virginia’s possessions have resulted in 3-and-outs.

The Irish offense, well their first drive they came up short on a 4th-and-1, but since then, they’ve moved the ball at will against UVA. This drive was a bit longer than the first scoring one, spanning 7-plays and 60-yard as quarterback Jack Coan was pressured, escaped and found wide receiver Braden Lenzy underneath and he did the rest. Lenzy leaped over Virginia defenders and found the end zone, pushing the Irish lead to 14-0.

Notre Dame vs. Navy: Second-Quarter Analysis

That’s more like it.

We might have more of a clear picture of how this game between Notre Dame and Navy will go. The Irish came in as the favorite, though they didn’t start like it. However, the talent discrepancy between them and the Midshipmen finally began to show itself. That means the Irish have a 17-3 halftime lead.

After stopping the Midshipmen on their first possession of the second quarter, the Irish showed more signs of life on offense. There was a Kyren Williams run here, a Michael Mayer gain there, and they set up a 38-yard pass from Jack Coan to Kevin Austin, which put the Irish at the Navy 11-yard line. An illegal block from Braden Lenzy set things back and might have cost the Irish a touchdown as they only got as far as the 6 after that. Jonathan Doerer tied the game on a 24-yard field goal.

The Irish then forced another three-and-out, which paved the way for a run-heavy drive mainly led by Tyler Buchner. Williams, Buchner and Logan Diggs pushed through on the ground before reaching the red zone. An 11-yard pass from Buchner to Austin was the first sign that this drive would end more successfully than the last one because that placed the ball at the 1. After that, Williams only needed one play to score the game’s first touchdown after that.

The Midshipmen once again failed to pick up a first down on the next possession, but they may have lost more than a chance to chip away at the deficit. Tai Lavatai suffered an injury on the field and was helped back to the locker room. Xavier Arline took over at quarterback for one play, but we’ll see if he’ll be needed for more in the second half. A 65-yard punt from Riley Riethman down the ball at the Irish’s 5.

All the Midshipmen had to do with time running out in the half was hold the Irish to their own side of the field, and they could go into the break down by only a score. It almost worked, but on third down, Coan found Austin for a 70-yard touchdown on his longest pass of the season. Slowly but surely, things have come up Irish.

Let’s get wild Virginia Tech! Predictions for Notre Dame vs the Hokies

Five predictions for Notre Dame football they get set to visit Virginia Tech Saturday evening.

It didn’t go the way many of us would have liked it to last week, but the season rolls on. Up next, the Irish travel to Virginia Tech to take on the Hokies in a raucous night environment. This contest won’t be easy by any means, as VT was once ranked before losing on the road to West Virginia in their third game. They rebounded two weeks ago beating Richmond, but not very convincingly, 21-10. The bye week bodes well for the Hokies but the Irish are hungry after the loss to the Bearcats. Here are five bold predictions for the Irish on Saturday night.