[size=+2]BCS National Championship - Glendale, AZ[/size]
[size=+1]#2 TCU (12-0) vs #1 Notre Dame (12-0)[/size]
Glendale, AZ - Coming into the game, all that TCU heard was about their weak schedule that let them cruise in the title game. There was so much hype surrounding Notre Dame that it felt like why even play the game. But we should no better by now that the BCS busters need to be taken seriously. And now it was for all the marbles. The Horned Frogs were playing for all of the non-BCS conferences in the nation to prove to them that the dream was possible. But could TCU really pull off the upset and steal the national title from the heavily favored Fighting Irish? Love them or hate them. There was very little debate as to who was the #1 team in the country. However, outside of the wins against Michigan, USC, and maybe Boise State, one could make an argument that Notre Dame's schedule was rather weak as well. It was time to finally settle it on the field.
The Horned Frogs proved that they meant business on the opening possession as they drove right into Irish territory. But TCU would lose their top receiver, WR Antonio Benson (88 ovr) when he was sandwhiched between the ND MLB combo of Jonathan Thompson (99 ovr) and George Cannon (96 ovr). Benson left with a strained back and would not return to the game until the 3rd quarter.
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TCU WR Antonio Benson left the game after this hit from ND MLBs Jonathan Thompson and George Cannon.[/size]
TCU's drive stalled and the junior kicker booted a 50-yard field goal to put the Frogs on top
3-0. The Irish appeared to be overexcited on their first possession as they went a quick three-and out. Then the Irish were able to hold TCU to a three-and-out, when QB Kevin Davis tried to scramble but ND SS David Jackson (91 ovr) brought him down for a sack. The Frogs were forced to punt but instead tried a fake that backfired miserably, giving the Irish great field position. Notre Dame capitalized as QB Joe Davis (97 ovr) led the Irish into the red zone. But the drive stalled and the Irish tied the game with a 24-yard chip shot,
3-3.
The Frogs were shut down again on offense as they went three-and-out. On the ensuing punt, ND WR Rodney Gonzalez made a nice 36-yard return all the way to the TCU 35-yard line. At the goal line, ND QB Joe Davis would find junior HB Tyrone Meade (91 ovr) in the flat for a 1-yard TD to put the Irish in front
10-3.
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ND QB Joe Davis finds HB Tyrone Meade for a 1-yard TD.[/size]
On the ensuing possession for the Horned Frogs, HB Andre Bates was able to get outside and break loose for a 35 yard gain. But a sack by ND OLB Curtis Novak would force TCU into another long field goal. But junior Graham Wilson had no trouble booming it over the upright for a 56-yard field goal to cut the lead to
10-6.
After a quick three-and-out for the Irish. Notre Dame's defense also forced a quick three-and-out of TCU, but the Frogs faked the punt again. And again it failed. With good field position, the Irish marched right into the red zone. Where HB Tyrone Meade scored on a 4-yard scamper up the middle to put Notre Dame up
17-6.
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ND HB Tyrone Meade scores on a 4-yard scamper.[/size]
Though TCU got right back in the game when they were able to march the length of the field methodically where QB Kevin Davis hit WR Steve Calhoun in the end zone for an 8-yard TD to make it
17-13.
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TCU WR Steve Calhoun with an 8-yard TD reception.[/size]
On the ensuing possession, the Irish looked in danger of having to punt the ball right back to the Frogs who were now feeling confident. That was until QB Joe Davis was able to scramble for 27 yards to keep the drive alive. As a result, Notre Dame got in position to attempt a 51-yard field goal which was booted through the uprights to make it
20-13 ND.
TCU responded by having to punt after three quick plays. The Irish got the ball back with :27 left to go in the half at their own 45-yard line. QB Joe Davis would connect on a short crossing pattern underneath the coverage with WR Cedrick Lowe (96 spd) who turned it into a 37-yard gain, taken out just inside the 5-yard line with :04 left to go in the half. The big play set up a 24-yard chip shot to give the Irish a
23-13 lead at halftime.
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ND WR Cedrick Lowe with a 37-yard recption that sets up a 24-yard field goal before halftime.[/size]
Heading into the 3rd quarter, it was quite obvious that Notre Dame was not going to run the Horned Frogs out of the building like many of the pundits had predicted. TCU was holding their own and continued to do so as the Irish failed to get a single first down to start the 2nd half. But TCU was pinned at their own 6-yard line on the punt. Field position was the name of the game in the 3rd quarter. TCU was forced to punt from deep inside their own territory. The Irish appeared like they were about to get going as they picked up a couple first downs and crossed into TCU territory with a couple decent runs by Meade. But the drive would stall and Notre Dame was forced to punt. Finally, the Horned Frogs found some success as QB Kevin Davis was able to get it out to his quick receivers.
The 4th quarter would start with the Frogs driving into the red zone. Where HB Andre Bates was able to elude a tackle and score on a 5-yard TD run to make it a close
23-20 Irish lead with plenty of time left.
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TCU HB Andre Bates with a 5-yard TD run.[/size]
The pressure was now on the Fighting Irish. For whatever reason, Notre Dame was having trouble running against TCU's statistically top defense as HB Tyrone Meade found very little running room. Thus it was put on the shoulders of QB Joe Davis (97 ovr). This was his time to shine but the Irish were stopped in TCU territory and forced top punt. The Horned Frogs went right back to work but were held at the ND 41-yard line. However, on 4th-and-inches, head coach rolled the dice as HB Andre Bates got the handoff out of the gun and found a huge opening to the right for an easy 1st down. Fortunately, the Irish were able to hold and force TCU to settle for a 47-yard field goal which junior Graham Wilson had no trouble splitting the uprights to tie the game
23-23 with 3:32 remaining.
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TCU junior kicker Graham Wilson splits the uprights for a 47-yard field goal to tie the game.[/size]
Now the upset possibility was alive and well. And Notre Dame did not help themselves any as they went a quick three-and-out. The only good thing they accomplished was pinning TCU at their own 9-yard line. Momentum seemed completely in favor of the Horned Frogs but they were also unable to achieve a first down. Wit 1:43 left to go, the Frogs were forced to punt from their own end zone where ND WR Rodney Gonzalez returned it all the way to the TCU 31-yard line. Then QB Joe Davis threw a strike to TE Ulysses Lane (90 ovr) along the sideline where he was not knocked out of bounds at the 8-yard-line with 1:00 left. The Irish were in position to win the game until Davis threw into the end zone and was picked off by TCU CB Demetrius Jackson as a collective groan reverberated through the stadium.
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TCU CB Demetrius Jackson picks off ND QB Joe Davis in the end zone.[/size]
Though TCU was unable to kill the clock and was forced to punt with :08 left in regulation. The Irish had the ball at their own 30-yard line with :03 left on the clock. So it would go to overtime unless Notre Dame could pull off some kind of miracle. QB Joe Davis dropped back to pass and threw underneath the coverage to WR Keith Williams (89 ovr, 94 elu) who got past one defender, eluded another, dodged another, broke an arm tackle, and broke another arm tackle. At that point the stadium roared to life as there was nothing but green left in front of him. Williams was able to take it all the way to the house for an incredible 70-yard TD reception as the clock ticked triple-zero. The entire team raced onto the field into a huge dogpile in the endzone. The fans stormed the field in jubilation as the stadium went ballistic with excitement in one of the greatest finsihes in BCS history. The luck of the Irish prevails in a BCS championship that will go down as one for the ages. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish finish a perfect 13-0 and are your 2014 national champions.
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ND WR Keith Williams gets by five TCU defenders on an incredible game-winning 70-yard TD reception.[/size]
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#2 TCU 23
QB Kevin Davis: 23-37, 244 yds, td
HB Andre Bates: 19 car, 89 yds, td
WR Steve Calhoun: 7 rec, 75 yds, td
CB Demetrius Jackson: 6 tkl, int, 3 defl
#1 Notre Dame 30
QB Joe Davis: 22-30, 290 yds, 2 td, int
HB Tyrone Meade: 22 car, 57 yds, td, rec td
WR Keith Williams: 5 rec, 130 yds, td
SS David Jackson: 12 tkl, tfl, sk, 2 defl