SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame followers might dwell with the Combating Irish being overpowered within the fourth quarter in opposition to then-No. 2 Ohio State. Being pushed round by Marshall is a unique story.
Notre Dame Stadium is meant to be a spot to shake down the thunder, not the place the Thundering Herd have a good time a 26-21 victory.
The eighth-ranked Irish led 15-12 when Tyler Buchner ran in for a 1-yard run to open the fourth quarter Saturday, then added a 2-point conversion. All of it went downhill from there for Notre Dame (0-2). Marcus Freeman is now the primary Irish coach to open his profession 0-3.
Freeman, the 36-year-old, first-time head coach, was requested whether or not his inexperience teaching was an element within the poor begin.
“If it’s my expertise as head coach, and I don’t know if that’s a purpose why, or the dearth of execution? But it surely begins with me, proper? It begins with me as the pinnacle coach and myself and saying, ‘What do I've to do to assist this soccer group and actually have a look at all the pieces we’re doing?’ As a result of the efficiency isn’t the place we wanted to be,” he stated.
Steven Gilmore returned an interception 37 yards for a landing late within the fourth quarter and Khalan Labron ran for 163 yards as Marshall shocked the Irish. Gilmore, the brother of Stephon Gilmore of the Indianapolis Colts, picked off a cross by Tyler Buchner with 4:35 left, raced to the top zone after which jumped into the stands the place Marshall followers have been already celebrating the victory.
“Clearly, an exceptional day,” second-year Marshall coach Charlie Huff stated. “I’m actually pleased with the best way they competed. I’m actually pleased with their aggressive spirit, the consistency of what we wanted to do to come back out with a win.”
Marshall (2-0), the primary Solar Belt Convention group to play at Notre Dame Stadium, beat a group ranked within the high 10 for simply the second time at school historical past. The Thundering Herd beat No. 6 Kansas State 27-20 in 2003.
Huff tried to downplay the importance of the win.
“In home, no disrespect to Notre Dame, in home, we anticipated it. As a result of we talked about this summer time being a group that expects to win each time we contact the sphere,” Huff stated.
Freeman, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Brian Kelly left for LSU, had misplaced a bowl recreation to Oklahoma State and at Ohio State final week. This one will go down a lot in another way.
The Irish had a streak of 42 straight wins in opposition to unranked opponents snapped. Freeman additionally stated after the sport Buchner was changed within the closing minutes due to a shoulder damage. He stated he didn’t understand how extreme it was.
The Herd took a 19-15 lead with 5:16 remaining when Henry Colombi accomplished a 3-yard landing cross to Devin Miller to cap that 94-yard drive. The rating was arrange by a 42-yard run by Laborn, who broke a deal with on the line of scrimmage and juked Irish security Brandon Joseph earlier than breaking free.
Any hope for a comeback by the Irish (0-2) ended when Owen Porter intercepted a cross by backup Irish quarterback Drew Pyne with three minutes remaining. Pyne threw a TD cross with 14 second left to chop the result in 5 factors.
Colombi was 16-of-21 passing for 145 yards and the Thundering Herd rushed for 219 yards on 50 carries.
The Irish, who struggled offensively per week earlier in a 21-10 loss to Ohio State with a play-it-safe, ball-control recreation plan, opened the playbook in opposition to the Herd however nonetheless struggled to get a lot going.
Buchner was 18-of-32 passing for 201 yards with two interceptions. Buchner additionally led the Irish in speeding with 44 yards on 13 carries, Michael Mayer had eight catches for 103 yards.
Freeman stated it’s time for self-examination.
“I simply informed the group that all of us have to take a look at ourselves, beginning with the pinnacle coach on down and say, ‘Okay, what do I've to do? What do now we have to do to repair the problems that we’re having, and never simply deal with the top consequence.’ We now have to take a look at the dearth of executions in all phases of our group and the place we are able to enhance that,” Freeman stated.
The takeaway
Marshall: Huff, a former Alabama and Penn State assistant, assembled a roster heavy on Energy 5 transfers akin to Labron from Florida State for the college’s first season within the Solar Belt. It paid off with one of many greatest victories at school historical past.
Notre Dame: The Irish offense confirmed it nonetheless has lots of work to do, and the honeymoon interval for Freeman might be over.
Killer drive
Freeman stated the Irish can’t permit an opponent to drive 94 yards for a landing just like the Herd did to take a 19-15 lead.
“The most important factor was the dearth of tackling. It’s too many instances the place, run or cross, we didn’t get the ball provider down. You may’t let an offense drive it 95 yards at any second, however particularly not within the fourth quarter when the sport’s on the road and also you’re up and also you’re attempting to place the sport away,” he stated.
Freeman is the primary Notre Dame coach to open his profession 0-3. Kelly opened his stint with the Irish 1-2 and misplaced three of his first 4. The final Irish coach to open with two straight losses was Lou Holtz in 1986, opening his profession 1-4.
Freeman might need been a bit too assured earlier than the sport.
“There’s no higher place on this nation to get our first win of this new period however right here at Notre Dame Stadium,” Freeman stated to followers earlier than the sport.
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