Going out on top
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.
Bob Davie summed up Notre Dame's play against Purdue on Saturday when he said Notre Dame won the same way the team won nine games last year — by making the big plays.
In 60 minutes of play, the Irish offense only netted half as many yards as the Boilermaker's offense, 162 yards compared to 332. But a 96-yard kick-off return and a 29-yard interception return, both for touchdowns, gave Notre Dame a season-ending 24-18 victory.
"We won tonight like we won nine games last year, exactly how we won them," the former head coach said following Saturday's game. "It reminded me a lot of last year. We're the same team, we're the same coaches we were a year ago. There are no surprises."
Early in the second half, Purdue kicker Travis Dorsch hit a 27-yard field goal, bringing the Boilermakers close enough to take the lead, 10-9.
But the Irish special teams responded by finding a spark it hasn't had all season — an explosive run-back. Vontez Duff caught Dorsch's kick-off at the four-yard line and escaped a tackle to run 96 yards for the first special teams touchdown of the season.
"I felt like I had a feel for it. We have a great system," Duff said. "It feels good. I want to give it back to the other 10 guys."
In total, special teams grabbed 196 yards on kick-off returns, including a 43-yard return by David Givens, and 22-yards on punt returns.
On Purdue's first possession of the fourth quarter, the Irish secondary joined the special teams explosion with a big play of its own. Jason Beckstrom picked off Kyle Orton's pass at the 29-yard line and returned it for a touchdown that put the Irish up 24-9. It was Beckstrom's first interception of the season and only the second time this year that Notre Dame has intercepted and returned the ball for a score.
"We're looking to make big plays," defensive back Shane Walton said. "Big plays turn the game around and that [the interception] right there was a big momentum change, a big swing in the game."
The defense forced three other turnovers in the game, denying Purdue three more scoring opportunities. In the final seconds of the game cornerback Clifford Jefferson grabbed his second interception of the night, destroying Purdue's hopes of a last minute score and clinching the Irish victory.
"It's kind of ironic," strong safety Glen Earl said of Jefferson, who has struggled all season. "He goes out his last game with two picks ... He kept battling."
Jefferson intercepted Orton earlier in the fourth quarter. In the second quarter, Tony Weaver forced a Purdue fumble on the Boilermaker 46-yard line.
"We know we have the potential to pull together, especially on the defense and trying to play close to the game," Early said. "Most of the game we did that. We played well, both the defensive line and the secondary."
In the final minutes of the game, Purdue made an attempt at a few of its own dynamic plays. With eight minutes left, Purdue put together a drive that started at their 17-yard line and finished in the Notre Dame end zone. Orton, who threw for 258 yards, completed a pass to Tim Stratton bringing the score to 24-15. Dorsch missed the extra point, forcing Purdue to score twice for the win.
Following a 31-yard field goal, the Boilermakers were within six, but Jefferson's interception in the final quarter finished off the Purdue scoring drive.
The dynamic plays helped out an Irish offense that had trouble moving the ball all night. Quarterback Carlyle Holiday, who had 82 yards of total offense, only passed for 31 yards on seven passes, the longest of which was six yards.
"Special teams helped us out a lot," Holiday said. "Last year it was a big factor in our season. Today it helped us out a lot."
Freshman tailback Ryan Grant led the Irish rushing attack, covering 77 yards on 19 carries. Grant, who was questionable because of an elbow injury, rushed for his first touchdown on a 14-yard run on Notre Dame's first possession of the second quarter that put the Irish up 7-3.
"I'm grateful things worked out," Grant said. "We got the `W', I got to run the ball."
Senior Terrance Howard, who was slated to start the game due to injuries to senior Tony Fisher and junior Julius Jones, only carried the ball twice for three yards.
Purdue opened the scoring with a 50-yard field goal five minutes into the first quarter. Dorsch added another three points to the Purdue score with four minutes left in the half to bring the Boilermakers within one at halftime.
Contact Katie McVoy at mcvo5695@saintmarys.edu.
All Sports Stories for Monday, December 3, 2001
