Sept. 17, 2016
Final Stats (PDF)
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The University of Notre Dame football team (1-2) fell behind by 29 points in the second half, rallied with three consecutive touchdowns but eventually fell to Michigan State (2-0), 36-28, in front of a sellout crowd of 80,795 at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night.
The Spartans took control of the game with three straight rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, establishing a 36-7 lead. Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer attempted to rally the Irish with three straight scores – two passing and one rushing – but the Irish defense could not earn the stop necessary at the end of the game to provide the offense an opportunity to tie.
Next up for the Irish, a contest with Duke on Sept. 24, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC).
PLAY OF THE GAME:
Equanimeous St. Brown’s 15-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter.
What a catch.
DeShone Kizer finds Equanimeous St. Brown in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/oVTJGjLMnd
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 18, 2016
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSE: DeShone Kizer, 20-37, 344 yards, two touchdowns, one rushing touchdown.
DEFENSE: Nyles Morgan, 10 tackles, eight solo, one pass broken up.
STAT OF THE GAME
Michigan State – 501 yards of total offense.
NOTE OF THE GAME:
71-yard Punt
Notre Dame punter Tyler Newsome connected on his longest career punt, pinning Michigan State inside the 10 with a 71-yard kick in the second quarter. It was the longest Notre Dame punt since a Hunter Smith attempt covered 79 yards against Arizona State in 1998.
TURNING POINT:
Fumbled Punt
Michigan State took ownership of the ball at 11:59 in the second quarter, trailing 7-0. The Irish defense forced a three and out, bringing MSU’s Jake Hartsberger on to punt. Hartsberger did not hit the punt cleanly and it fell short, falling to the turf and ricocheting off the ankle of Notre Dame’s Miles Boykin, who was engaged in a block to set up a return.
The Spartans pounced on the free ball and one play later, Donnie Corley out-fought Cole Luke on a 50/50 pass in the endzone to score Michigan State’s first touchdown on a 38-yard reception.
Michigan State then sprung a two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead and seize momentum in the contest. To enhance the Spartan momentum, C.J. Sanders fumbled the ball on Notre Dame’s next play from scrimmage after a 19-yard catch and run.
Two touches, two Notre Dame fumbles and Michigan State suddenly had full control of the game.
SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME:
Jerome Bettis takes part in the former football player tunnel before the game.
Go Irish! #NDvsMSU pic.twitter.com/z2NkNYbjYl
— Jerome Bettis (@JeromeBettis36) September 18, 2016