The Fighting Irish stop a 3-game losing streak to the Cardinal to remain undefeated.

The rain beat down hard as Stanford (4-2) lined up on the Notre Dame (6-0) goal line in the final seconds of overtime. It was fourth down and the Cardinal had to score a touchdown. The moment had all the tension of the final scene of a dramatic movie. It turned out to be a Hollywood ending for the Fighting Irish as they stopped Cardinal RB Stephan Taylor from plunging into the endzone to secure a 20-17 overtime win as crazed fans rushed the field to rejoice in the team’s sixth straight victory.

The hero in Saturday’s feature would be backup Notre Dame QB Tommy Reese who came off the bench yet again this season late in the game to seek revenge on the team that embarrassed him last year and sent him ironically to the bench. Rees was a perfect 4 for 4  leading his team to consecutive scoring drives resulting in a field goal to send the game into overtime, tied 13-13 and a 7-yard touchdowntoss to WR TJ Jones to cap the overtime 20-17 victory.

Fighting Irish QB Everett Golson started the game and played worse than his numbers, 141 yards and one touchdown would dictate. He looked overwhelmed by a stout Cardinal defense that forced three fumbles, including one recovered for a touchdown in the Notre Dame endzone, and knocked him out of the game on a vicious helmet to helmet hit in the fourth quarter.  

But the defense would not allow The Cardinal a fourth straight win against the Fighting Irish. The unit continued its streak of not allowing a touchdown since September. Te’o played like the best linebacker in the nation, single-handedly stopping a Stanford rush on a crucial third down in overtime. S Matthias Farley added 8 tackles and 49-yard interception and DE Stephon Tuitt registered his seventh sack of the season in the winning effort.

Fighting Irish TE Tyler Eifert’s 24-yard touchdown and second of the season in the fourth quarter sparked the Fighting Irish comeback, tying the score 10-10.

In a post game interview Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly commented to NBC that a challenge was good for the Fighting Irish and it could benefit from adversity.

There will plenty more adversity this season against ranked teams in no. 13 Oklahoma and No. 11 USC.

The Fighting Irish look for another happy ending next week as they face the visiting BYU Cougars next week at home.