Tag: Kevin Austin

Watch: Notre Dame’s Coan finds Austin to get Irish back ahead of North Carolina

The Irish are back on top against the Tar Heels

The Irish jumped out to leads of 7-0 and 10-3, but North Carolina finally found the endzone with under 4-minutes left in the first half. Notre Dame came back and answered, with a quick drive, just 1-minute and 59-seconds, that took 6 plays and covered 75-yards to take back the lead.

It was quarterback Jack Coan that led the Irish on this drive, with a big pass play to tight end Michael Mayer for 30-yard to really get the drive moving. After a UNC personal fouls on forth down gave the Irish a 1st and ten from the 21-yard line. Coan found wide receiver Kevin Austin on this play to give the Irish the lead back, 17-10.

Notre Dame vs. USC: First-Quarter Analysis

This quarter was a mixed bag, but the Irish have the lead.

As is the case with nearly every rivalry game, there will be moments of frustration. Notre Dame certainly experienced some of that in the first quarter of its game against USC. Still, the Irish should be pleased with where they are at. A 7-0 lead through 15 minutes will do that.

The frustration came on the game’s opening drive. Jack Coan smoothly executed a game plan that got the Irish into the Trojans’ red zone. A drop by Kevin Austin on third-and-4 soon after derailed some of the excitement. All excitement went away when Jonathan Doerer kicked a 36-yard field-goal attempt wide right.

The Trojans were unable to capitalize on this break when they went three-and-out on a drive that began when Jayson Ademilola sacked Kedon Slovis on the first play. The Irish got the ball back and had an even better drive than the one before. A series of short gains were made possible by runs from Kyren Williams and a combination of passes from Coan and Tyler Buchner. The drive ended with the game’s first score when Coan threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Avery Davis.

The Trojans took the ball back looking like a much different offense. They went to their bread-and-butter by finding star receiver Drake London on back-to-back first-down plays. The second such play came at a hefty cost to the Irish as Kyle Hamilton went down awkwardly on his knee trying to defend the pass. He didn’t put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the field, so we’ll have to see what happens with him for this game and beyond.

Notre Dame comes back to win at Virginia Tech: 5 instant takeaways

Would you have put Coan back in the game?

The cardiac kids were at it again Saturday night as No. 14 Notre Dame trailed Virginia Tech 29-21 with just under four minutes to go in regulation.

Jack Coan was a disaster in the first quarter, replaced by Tyler Buchner who gave the Irish a needed spark before sputtering and appearing to roll his ankle away from a play and being forced to exit.

Coan returned with under four minutes to lead a game-tying touchdown drive before getting the ball back and leading the Irish into range for Jonathan Doerer to hit his second game-winning field goal of the season.

It was a football game that was played and that Notre Dame won,  Here are my five instant takeaways as the Irish move to 5-1:

5 Stars: The best and worst of Notre Dame’s comeback win over Virginia Tech

If you didn’t think this game was a dog fight waiting to happen, you haven’t see enough of both Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. The two teams are similar, both hit hard and make plays on defense to keep them in games while having average offenses. The …

If you didn’t think this game was a dog fight waiting to happen, you haven’t see enough of both Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. The two teams are similar, both hit hard and make plays on defense to keep them in games while having average offenses. The two teams slugged it out over four quarters but the Irish prevailed with a quality and exciting, 32-29 road victory. Here are the best, 5 stars, and worst, 1 star, performances from the Irish this week.

 

Notre Dame at Virginia Tech: Fourth-Quarter Analysis

That was close, but they pulled it off.

When the book is written on the 2021 iteration of Notre Dame, it likely will be one of close calls and frustration. Too often, they have had to tough out games against teams that were considered inferior to them. This will include Saturday’s 32-29 road win over Virginia Tech.

Both teams traded punts to begin the fourth quarter. Then, the Irish (5-1) were able to get into field-goal range before a clipping call against Andrew Kristofic backed them up almost to midfield. Trying to make something happen on third-and-long, Tyler Buchner instead threw an interception to Nasir Peoples. Adding injury to insult, Buchner immediately ended up in the medical tent after favoring his right foot.

With Braxton Burmeister still dealing with an injury he suffered in the third quarter, the Hokies (3-2) had turned to Connor Blumrick at quarterback. However, Blumrick himself was injured on a run that went for no gain. By then, Burmeister had recovered enough that he was able to return. He completed a 13-yard pass to Tre Turner, then benefited from a roughing-the-passer call against Kyle Hamilton.

Burmeister will be considered a warrior after this game, and he showed why with the Hokies now in the red zone. After two Jalen Holston runs went backwards, Burmeister took the ball himself on third-and-15 and headed to the left side en route to a 19-yard touchdown. He headed back to the sideline afterwards in clear discomfort, so he definitely had willed himself to help his team.

With Buchner now injured, the Irish were forced to turn back to Jack Coan for his first action since the game’s opening drive. He got some help when Dex Hollifield targeted Kyren Williams on the first play, which was followed by Hollifield’s ejection. From there, Coan had little trouble leading an all-pass drive, which culminated in a 4-yard touchdown reception for Avery Davis. Faced with a two-point deficit with only 2:26 remaining, Coan avoided a swarm of defenders and was able to find Kevin Austin for the completion to tie the game at 29.

The Irish’s defense then forced a three-and-out, allowing the offense to dictate the team’s fate beginning at its own 25-yard line. Almost in the blink of an eye, the Irish made their way just inside field-goal range. Jonathan Doerer came on to attempt a 48-yard kick and give the Irish the lead with 22 seconds to play. After a Hokies timeout, followed by a slight delay to discuss what to do about a laser Brian Kelly said was coming from the stands, the kick was good, breaking the tension for what seemed like a longer play stoppage than it should have been.

A final Hokies desperation went nowhere, and that was that. Shortly after the clock hit zero, there was a brief skirmish between the teams, but nothing serious happened. That’s not what the Irish would have needed heading into the bye week.

Watch: Kevin Austin makes a wild catch to tie game for Notre Dame vs VT

WOW

The Irish just scored a touchdown and with under 3-minutes left in the game, Brian Kelly’s squad trailing by 2-points, there was no option. They had to go for the tie on the road and potentially send the game to over time.

It wasn’t a pretty play, as Jack Coan, who entered at the beginning of the series for an injured Tyler Buchner, rolled to his right to but time after his first options weren’t open. He was flushed further to the sideline and had to just throw the ball up and hope on of his receiver could come down with it. Superman, er, Kevin Austin was that guy as he made this catch out of know where and helped the Irish tie the game at 29.

Notre Dame at Virginia Tech: Second-Quarter Analysis

Progress has been made.

The second quarter went much better for Notre Dame. It was able to make a key stop and get on the board before Virginia Tech completely took over the game. Next thing you knew, they were ahead on the scoreboard shortly before halftime. The Irish gladly will take a 14-13 lead into the locker room.

The second quarter began with the Hokies continuing to march on a drive that began in the first. They got into the red zone, then to the Irish’s 1-yard line on a 15-yard reception by Tre Turner. The Irish pulled off the goal-line stand by stuffing Raheem Blackshear, then forcing two incomplete passes. The Hokies had to settle for a 19-yard field goal from John Parker Romo.

The Irish went to their third quarterback in four drives when Tyler Buchner was called upon. This time, the offense looked like a well-oiled machine, getting the ball to midfield on runs before Buchner hit Kevin Austin for a 46-yard completion. Two plays later, Buchner ran 3 yards for the Irish’s first touchdown.

The Irish’s defense then forced a three-and-out. The highlight came when Isaiah Foskey sacked Braxton Burmeister for a 10-yard loss on third down. The offense couldn’t respond on the next drive as it also failed to pick up a first down. It could have happened but for Chris Tyree dropping a short pass from Buchner right by the marker.

After another Hokies drive went almost nowhere, the Irish had one more chance to get points on the board before the half. When Buchner completed a 37-yard pass to Avery Davis, that possibility became very real. Aided by a defensive holding call, the Irish quickly got themselves in the red zone. They then quieted Lane Stadium completely when Buchner hit Kyren Williams with an 8-yard touchdown pass.

With time running out in the first half, the Hokies made a final desperate attempt to get the lead back or at least chip into their new deficit. They were able to get across midfield and then into field-goal range. Only three seconds remained after that, so they only had time for Romo to attempt a 52-yard field goal. The kick was successful, so the message was sent that this game is not going to be won easily by either team.

Watch: Notre Dame answers as Buchner’s long pass leads to his rush TD vs VT

The Irish strike back

Once again, Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan struggled against an above average defense. This time Virginia Tech has made his life uneasy and he was sacked in two of the three series he started.

On the fourth series, in came true freshman Tyler Buchner who has been nursing a soft tissue leg injury. He came in and did what Coan couldn’t, engineered an Irish scoring drive as they marched down the field 75-yards in 7 plays. The biggest play was when Buchner found wide receiver Kevin Austin for a 46-yard gain and putting the Irish inside the Hokie 4-yard line.

Two plays later Buchner ran it in from 3-yards away as the Irish got close to the hosts, 10-7, as the Irish trail midway through the second quarter.

5 Stars: The best and worst of Notre Dame’s loss to Cincinnati

Who played well? Who didn’t?

It was a disastrous first half, even though the Irish looked like the better team. They went into the half down 17-0 and early in the third quarter it looked like the Bearcats were about to pull away. The Irish battled back to 17-13, but Cincinnati responded with a touchdown and that’s was the end of the Notre Dame comeback attempt. It wasn’t all bad for the Irish and here are the best, 5 stars, and worst, 1 star, performances during Notre Dame 24-13 loss to Cincinnati.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin: Fourth-Quarter Analysis

That was a fun final 15 minutes.

It didn’t always look easy. In fact, it looked downright scary a lot of the time. However, you never can argue with what the scoreboard says when you’re ahead and the clock hits zero. That’s Notre Dame after its 41-13 win over Wisconsin in its Shamrock Series game at Soldier Field. As an added bonus, it allowed Brian Kelly to surpass Knute Rockne as the winningest coach in program history with 106 victories and get a pair of Gatorade baths for the accomplishment.

The fourth quarter began with the Badgers (1-2) threatening to reach the end zone, but the defense that could become more valuable for the Irish (4-0) as the season goes on was able to hold them to a 27-yard field goal from Collin Larsh. That 13-10 Badgers lead lasted all of one play as Chris Tyree returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time the Irish had scored on a kick return since 2016. Suddenly, the Badgers fans who were dancing to “Jump Around” a few minutes earlier weren’t feeling so hot.

The Badgers faced a third down on their next drive. The play that followed resulted in Jayson Ademilola forcing a Graham Mertz fumble on a sack and Isaiah Foskey recovering it. With Jack Coan still on the bench, Drew Pyne completed a 22-yard pass to Michael Mayer to set up the Irish in the red zone. Two plays later, Pyne hit Kevin Austin for a 16-yard touchdown that only could be described as a backbreaker. It was Austin’s second touchdown of the game.

Desperately needing a score, the Badgers advanced to the Irish’s 34-yard line. When the drive stalled out there, Larsh attempted a 52-yard field goal that sailed left. Hope remained alive for the Badgers after the Irish went three-and-out, but Cam Hart quickly picked off Mertz for his second interception of the game. The offense didn’t get far, not that it really needed to at that point, but Jonathan Doerer kicked a 37-yard field goal anyway.

Even with the outcome decided, the Irish’s defense decided it wasn’t done scoring. Jack Kiser came out of nowhere and returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown. That somehow still wasn’t enough for the unit to make its statement. Drew White returned his own interception to the end zone from 45 yards out.

The Irish stomped on the Badgers, then stomped on them again. That’s quite the good feeling, isn’t it? What dominance at the end.