| Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson celebrates after scoring the winning TD in the third OT vs. Pitt. (AP) |
In the past two decades, Notre Dame has twice seen its national title hopes fade in November in the week following a significant victory.
A week after containing an explosive Florida State offense led by Charlie Ward in 1993, the top-ranked Irish lost to Boston College on a 41-yard field goal as time expired. Nine years later, the Eagles again defeated an unbeaten Irish team in November.
After the program’s first top-10 win in more than 15 years last Saturday, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly cautioned the Irish about a letdown against Pittsburgh on Saturday. It looked like history would repeat as Notre Dame trailed by 14 in the fourth quarter. But the No. 3 Irish rallied to tie the game and force overtime, eventually escaping with a 29-26 win in triple overtime.
Notre Dame redshirt freshman QB Everett Golson rushed for a key first down on third-and-3 from the Panthers 7 in triple overtime, then ended the game with a 1-yard plunge for a touchdown. The Irish improved to 9-0 for the first time since the 1993 victory over the Seminoles.
“I’m speechless right now,” Irish senior DE Kapron Lewis-Moore told NBC. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Panthers, like the Eagles 19 years ago, could have ruined Notre Dame’s national title chances with a game-winning field goal. After a fumble by Irish RB Cierre Wood in the end zone on the opening possession of double overtime, Pittsburgh senior K Kevin Harper missed a 33-yard field goal wide right. Harper’s timing was disrupted by a high snap.
“We needed to pressure him, obviously, but it’s not (just about) one play,” Kelly told NBC. “We played a very good team today, Pittsburgh played their butts off. I’m so proud of our kids, they kept fighting when things didn’t look great, they persevered and found a way to win.”
Golson helped orchestrate the comeback by leading an 11-play, 71-yard drive early in the fourth quarter to cut the Panthers lead to 20-12. The drive, which lasted just over two minutes, was capped by an 11-yard touchdown catch by WR TJ Jones. Notre Dame converted on two fourth-down attempts during the series.
Following a Panthers’ punt, Golson led a 91-yard, 14-play drive before he was intercepted by Panthers DB K'Waun Williams in the left corner of the end zone. Irish TE Tyler Eifert appeared open in the middle of the field, but Golson tried to force a throw into a tight window to TE Troy Niklas.
Golson rebounded on Notre Dame’s next offensive series with a 45-yard completion to WR DaVaris Daniels to the Panthers’ 5. He then connected with RB Theo Riddick on a 5-yard touchdown pass, then tied the game by diving into the end zone for a two-point conversion with 2:11 left in regulation.
A stingy Notre Dame defense that entered this week in the top 15 in FBS in five statistical categories struggled to contain Pitt RB Ray Graham. The Panthers' senior rushed for 172 yards on 24 carries, including a 55-yard run up the middle in the first quarter -- the longest against the Irish this season. The Irish defense allowed more than 17 points in a game for the first time this season.
“The kids know you can’t fumble in the end zone, you can’t throw a pick in the end zone and that we didn’t play well defensively in the first half,” Kelly said. “Having said all that, we’re happy to be 9-0.”
Miscues by K Brindza nearly cost Irish: Notre Dame sophomore Kyle Brindza had a forgettable Saturday with a critical missed extra point and a missed field goal from 43 yards just before the half.
Brindza had made all 17 of his extra points before Saturday but has struggled on short-yardage field-goal attempts. He's missed three kicks inside 40 yards this season, including a 28-yarder against BYU on Oct. 20. Brindza’s missed extra point early in the fourth quarter forced the Irish to score on Golson’s two-point conversion to push the game into overtime.
The Irish and Panthers are accustomed to exciting finishes. Their last five games have been decided by six points or fewer. In 2008, Pitt defeated Notre Dame 36-33 in four overtimes.
Magic number for Irish: The Irish rushed for 230 yards on 51 carries. Notre Dame has won 13 straight games when rushing for at least 200 yards.
The Irish were led by Riddick, who had 84 yards on 22 carries. Golson added 74 yards on 15 carries. Notre Dame has averaged 248.2 rushing yards in its past five games.
Notre Dame has not lost when rushing for more than 200 yards since 2007 against Navy.
(For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog)
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on Notre Dame football, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast.