Live Game Blog Notre Dame

Coin Toss: ND wins, defers. Huskies to receiver. Kickoff imminent. Take a deep breath -- University of Connecticut vs. Notre Dame is next. I will say, this is a lot different than Hofstra or Lafayette at Memorial Stadium.

Update 2:43 p.m.: First play is a Todman run for 4 yards. Run, run, run.

Update 2:44 p.m.: Huskies go 3 and out. Two incomplete passes. Like I said, run, run, run.

Update 2:50 p.m.: Third and 5, Clausen to Golden Tate for a TD off play-action. Huskies defense is going to need to get pressure on Clausen or he will throw for 400 yards today. 7-0 Notre Dame. Junior bit on the play-action. Huskies didn't look like they could stop ND. Perhaps, should settle for slowing them down.

Halftime wrap-up

Golden Domers are restless. The Huskies defense has tightened up and since the Witten sack of Clausen Notre dame has been quiet. Nice job by the secondary with Blidi Wreh Wilson and Dwayne Gratz playing much more agressively. So So first half for the UConn offense. Todman's big play bailed them out. Frazer has been under pressure and that's a problem for him. Running game has been productive. I would stick there. Frazer hasn't looked sharp, but hasn't made any mistakes. The big thing with Frazer is he struggles under pressure. He needs to be better in that regard, but that comes with experience.  It's 14-10 at the half, and it could be a lot worse. Huskies defense needs to build off that second quarter.

Update 2:57 p.m.: Frazer missed Dixon on third down pass. DIxon was open in the flat. Frazer threw high to easley. Huskies punted again. Hey, how about the defense slow ND down?

Update 3:03 p.m.: Huskies hold on third down. The secondary is more aggressive and Blidi Wreh Wilson made a nice play and almost came away with INT. Big play here, McClain punt return of 32 yards. Huskies have ball at Their own 42. Have to do something here.

Update 3:10 p.m.: Huskies stall at the ND 40. ND is getting some pressure on UConn. Not enough to sack, but enough to cause Frazer to feel uncomfortable. Huskies have to fix that. 3 possessions, 3 punts.

Update 315: computer issues. Blog is down for the game. Yeah, bad luck.

Update 3:32 p.m: Back up. Jordan Todman with a long 43 yard TD run. Todman scores a touchdown and then poses. Todman looked up at Touchdown Jesus and mirrored the pose. Edsall didn't like that.  14-7 Notre Dame, Pups on the board. They need to come up with some pressure on defense. The secondary is more aggressive, but it's too hard when Clausen just sits back there untouched. Clausen is playing flag football.

Update  3:38 p.m.: Lindsey Witten sighting. He had a first down sack on Clausen, and the resulting drive is a punt. They need more of Witten today.

Update 3:46 p.m.: Erik Kuraczea limps off. Not sure how serious. Huskies have to protect Frazer here. Frazer just isn't comfortable under pressure. Anyhow. Setting the scene. UConn is 2-7 at midfield down 14-7 with 6:43 left.

Update 3:54 p.m.:  Teggart with a 39-yard field goal. 14-10 Notre Dame 3:14 left at half. They have to hold ND here at bay, go into the half and regroup. Nice comeback by the Huskies, but they have to get it to the half.

Update 4:04 p.m.: Huskies get one first down, but then three plays for minimal gains. ND is going to get ball back with 1:33. That's a poor job by the offense. At a minimum they have to get this game to the half 14-10. Now Clausen and Co. have the ball at their own 15 with 1:25 left. Defense needs to make another play.

Third quarter

Update 4:29 p.m.: Key dirve to beging third quarter. Pups make a stand, then things will start to get interesting.

Update 4:33 p.m.: Poor tackling by the Huskies to start the third period. Still, chance for a stop.

Update 4:34 p.m.: Sums up Huskies season. Fourth and 2 from the UConn 30. Run up middle. Huskies have the play stopped, but can't complete play. Missed tackle, it's first down inside the 10 after a 26 yard gain. Playmakers. Playmakers, Playmakers.

Update 4:38 p.m.: Huskies toughen inside the 10. It's fourth down from the 2 yard line. Looks like Weis will kick the field goal. To me, that's a mistake. They got a chance to put UConn away, and they go for 3. That's a very conservative play by Weis.

Update 4:42 p.m.: Jordan Todman 96 yard kickoff reutrn for a touchdown. Todman flips the ball to the official. Huskies are tied 17-17. Hold your horses Husky fans. I told you Weis kicking the ball was a bad play.

Update 4:48 p.m.: Huskeis hold Notre Dame. The defense is gaining confidence. Confidence is a dangerous thing. Can the Huskies offense sustain a drive here?

Update 4:54 p.m.:  Huskies catch a break, and boy they needed it. 23 yard pass completion to Floyd was stripped by McClain and recovered by UConn on the 14.

Fourth quarter
 
Update 5:12 p.m.:  Defense has been on the field quite awhile. Notre dame at UConn 18. Huskies need to hold ND to a field goal.

Update 5:15 p.m.: Huskies are fortunate Charlie Weis is outsmarting himself. 1st and 10 from the 11, and Weis runs two straight plays. Third down is a fade pass incomplete. UConn can't cover Tate and Floyd. I would attack with them. But, Weis is running the ball. FG good, but no TD, and that's good for the Huskies. 20-17 Notre Dame.

Frazer has to get the passing game going. He is 9-of-19 for 90 yards. he has been bothered by pressure.

Update 5:20 p.m.: Huskies need positive yards on first down. Get ball on 40 yard line after kick out of bounds, and then Todman -2 rush. Can't get in passing situtions.

Update 5:23 p.m.: Edsall goes for it on 4 and 1 on the UConn 49, Dixon gets 2 yards. That's a great call by Edsall. Got to throw caution to win here.

Update 5:24 p.m.: Bad play by ZXach Frazer. He threw an INT in endzone after long play to Easley. Had Easley open, bad pass. He didn't get it up in the air enough. Crushing play for the Huskies.

Update 5:28 p.m.: Defense comes up big. Third and 11 play, Reyes with a sack. Huskies are going to get the ball back with 5 minutes to go down 20-17.

Update 5:35 p.m.: OUCH! Easley called for holding on a Dixon gain inside the 5. Still, first and 2 from the 18 yard.

Update 5:38 p.m.: Dixon scores, but holding. You got to be kidding me. Luck of the Irish. Two holding calls save the day for the Irish. Sherman held. Weak hold but a hold. Easely hold? I would like to see more replays.

Update 5:41 p.m.: Third and 11 from the 15. Inside handoff. I don't like it. At 4-5 put it in the air and see if you can win the game. It's risky with Frazer, but, you got to go for the win. Teggart from 29.

Update 5:43 p.m.: Teggart kicks it. 20-20 with 1:10 left. Balls is in Jimmu Clausen's hands. Irish have one timeout.

Update 5:46 p.m.: thrid and 10 on the 21. UConn can get ball back with a stop....

Update 5:47 pm.: UConn has finally made a play. Fumble at the ND 41 recovered by Vaughn. 49 seconds left. Two timesouts. THe Huskeis have a victory over Notre Dame in their grasp.

Update 5:49 p.m.: Game is in Teggart's hands! UConn has a 37 yard field goal to win.

Update 5:51 p.m.: Teggart missed the field goal to win. I am sick right now.

Update 5:52 p.m.: Missed it right. He has to make that kick. I don't know what to say. More adversity for the Huskies.

Overtime

Update 5:53: Huskies have ball first. Now edge goes over to Notre Dame.

Update 5:58 p.m.: Third and 8 from the 11 and Frazer throws a TD to Kashif Moore. It's under review. xtra point is good. 27-20. If Huskies defense holds, then, it's victory. Xtra point coming.  

Update 6:05 p.m.: ND gets ball in second overtime.

Update 6:07 p.m.: Blidi Wreh Wilson breaks up a throid and five pass. 35 yard FG for ND in seocnd OT. It's good. A TD wins it for the Huskies.  30-27 ND. Huskies on deck. a TD, and they leave South Bend a winner.

Update 6:11 p.m.: Dixon 4 yard TD beats Notre dame.,