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| Golson had another solid outing for ND.Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/US Presswire |
Everett Golson had it working both through the air and on the Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium racking up 315 total yards as #11 Notre Dame (3-0) defeated Purdue (1-2) 30-14 in the latest installment of the Shamrock Series.
Notre Dame struck early in the first quarter as Golson fired a six yard slant pass to William Fuller for a touchdown, giving the Fighting Irish an early 7-0 lead.
Towards the end of the first quarter, Purdue respond to the Notre Dame touchdown with one of their own. On a third and six, QB Danny Etling dumped off a pass to Brandon Cottom who rumbled downfield before barreling over Cody Riggs into the end zone tying the game up at 7-7. It gave the Boilermakers confidence in themselves that they could hang with the Irish in this game.
On Notre Dame’s third possession of the second quarter, Golson's short pass to Ben Koyack ended up with Koyack fumbling the ball away, Purdue wound up falling on the ball.. It was the first turnover committed by the Fighting Irish this season.
Etling rolled out on a third down and rifled a pass to the back of the end zone with David Yancey hauling in the pass by dragging one foot and keeping possession of the ball as Purdue took their first lead of the game 14-10.The Boilermakers were in a pretty good rhythm on offense at this moment, keeping the Irish defense on its heels.
Notre Dame would wake up out o fits doldrums and start to put their stamp on this game.On a second and thirteen in the second quarter, Golson flushed out of the pocket by the Purdue rush scrambled downfield for a 15 yard putting Notre Dame ahead for good 17-14. This scoring drive took allot of wind out of the sails for Purdue. Notre Dame sensed that and would take full advantage of that in the second half.
The Fighting Irish increased their lead to 24-14 late in the third quarter as Golson connected with Corey Robinson who skied above the rim for a 15 yard score. Notre Dame now had the Purdue defense scrambling and out of position as they got their offense together and went up and down the field.
Unfortunately in this win, the Fighting Irish lost one of their key members of the secondary in Max Redfield in the second quarter. He was disqualified from the game for targeting the helmet of Etling. Redfield’s replacement Nicky Baratti left the game due to a shoulder injury.
Notre Dame has a bye next week before traveling to Met Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to play the Syracuse Orange.
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