Notre Dame Survives USC, Secures Spot in BCS Championship Game
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Los Angeles, CA
Quarterback Everett Golson threw 15-for-26 for 217 yards and kicker Kyle Brindza converted five field goals as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish punched their ticket to the BCS Championship game with a 22-13 victory over the USC Trojans Saturday at Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Fighting Irish are back in the biggest stage of college football, leaning on a rock solid defense to complete their first undefeated regular-season since 1988.
Knowing the importance of their season finale clash against the upset-minded Trojans, the Irish jumped out to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
USC cut the deficit to three points after quarterback Max Wittek hooked up with Robert Woods for an 11-yard TD pass. However, Brindza converted two field goals to give the visiting team a 16-10 halftime lead.
But the Irish defense stepped up big time in the second half, holding USC to just a field goal. The Trojans had an opportunity to put the Irish perfect season in jeopardy in the final minutes but Notre Dame's defense stiffened.
USC saw the end of a mediocre season after starting the year as the No.1 rated football program in the nation. Quarterback Matt Barkley also did not play, making his final game with the Trojans.
The Irish will likely face the winner of the SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) and the Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) in the BCS title game on Jan. 7 in Miami, Florida.
Notre Dame players returned to campus in the wee hours of Sunday morning -- complete with a police escort -- much to the delight of the fans waiting for them
Notre Dame Survives USC, Secures Spot in BCS Championship Game
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