Secondary steals game from Sun Devils
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Assistant Sports Editor
Behind the leadership of seniors Deke Cooper, A'Jani Sanders and Deveron Harper, the Notre Dame secondary stripped the Arizona State offense of the ball every chance it got Saturday.
The defensive backfield forced five of the six ASU turnovers, with Cooper leading the way. Harper, Sanders and Cooper combined their efforts to pick up three interceptions in the first half off of ASU quarterback Ryan Kealy. Cooper added two fumble recoveries to swing the game's momentum in favor of Notre Dame.
"There's a direct correlation to the defense," offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers said. "They turned the ball over five times for us, giving us opportunities, because very frankly, we were struggling in the first half."
Notre Dame was unable to score in the first quarter. Luckily, neither was Arizona State, thanks in large part to a fumble recovery by Cooper and an interception by Harper.
"Turnovers always give you a lot of momentum," senior cornerback Harper said. "You just hope the offense keeps the ball."
The Irish got on the scoreboard with 10 minutes, 56 seconds remaining in the second quarter with a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jarious Jackson to Bobby Brown.
But it was Sanders that really sparked the Irish offense less than a minute later when he intercepted a Kealy pass intended for Delvon Flowers, returning the ball 28 yards for a touchdown.
"This is the mark of a good defense. When you get the lead, you've got to keep it," strong safety Sanders said. "After Deveron got the interception, our hands were just itching. I guess I was in the right place at the right time."
Sanders' play was nearly identical to one which he made in last year's Notre Dame 29-8 victory over Arizona State.
"It's amazing — A'Jani Sanders, for the second time in two years, intercepted a ball and ran it back for a touchdown, against the same quarterback, against the same team, obviously," head coach Bob Davie said.
Last year's interception also came early in the second quarter with Notre Dame leading Arizona State 7-0. Sanders returned the '98 interception 25 yards for a touchdown, nearly identical to Saturday's return.
Free safety Cooper did more than his share on defense, with his two fumble recoveries and an interception. Notre Dame ended up getting touchdowns on the drives after his interception and third-quarter fumble recovery.
The interception capped off a 27-point second quarter scoring run with the play following Cooper's interception.
Kealy's pass had been intended for ASU wide receiver Richard Williams, but Cooper caught the overthrown pass, returning it 33 yards to the ASU 25-yard line before being brought down by Flowers. On the very next play, Jackson hit Joey Getherall for a 25-yard touchdown.
The secondary has helped lead the Irish all year long. All four starters for the defensive backfield — Cooper, Sanders, Harper and sophomore Clifford Jefferson are among the top five tacklers for the Irish this season.
"We had three seniors back there [this year]," Sanders said. "We felt like this is our turn. We're seniors — me and Deveron and Deke. We're going to hit and we're going to get big plays. As a defense, you've got to want to get the turnovers.
"It helps a lot," Jackson said. "Like when A'Jani ran that ball back for the touchdown, that's easy points to me. I know it's not easy points because he is working hard and covering people, but as long as the scoreboard is lighting up on our side, I am all for it."
Although Notre Dame's defense gave up 263 passing yards on the day, the aggressive play of the secondary helped keep Arizona State's score to 17 points, with only seven before the final quarter.
All Sports Stories for Monday, October 11, 1999
