Tigers Overrun The Irish Lsu’s Second-Half Surge More Than Notre Dame Can Handle

This time, Notre Dame wasn’t perfect and didn’t win.

The Irish failed to repeat the no-penalty, no-turnover performance of seven weeks ago against LSU, and thus failed to win the rematch in the Independence Bowl, losing 27-9 to the Tigers on Sunday night.

It was the 13th postseason rematch of a regular-season game, the first for Notre Dame. Only four teams have won both games.

“It didn’t have anything to do with playing them a second time, and really didn’t have anything to do with playing them in Shreveport,” said Irish coach Bob Davie. “It had to do with what always happens in football. If you don’t execute well, you don’t win.”

Scott Cengia’s three field goals, an Independence Bowl record, provided the only scoring for Notre Dame (7-6), which had bounced back from a 1-4 start by winning six of its last seven games just to become eligible for a postseason berth.

“We are disappointed right now, but all in all I’m really proud of this football team right now,” said Davie, who wrapped up his first season after replacing Lou Holtz. “We ended up having a winning record, ended up going to a bowl game … and setting the foundation for the future.”

Just like the first game, a 24-6 Notre Dame victory, the Irish scored first. But the 3-0 lead on Cengia’s 33-yard field goal was not as dominating as the 21-0 first-quarter lead the Irish built in Baton Rouge.

Notre Dame’s only turnover was costly.

Backup quarterback Jarious Jackson took his first snap midway through the second quarter. While running right, he was hit by linebacker Joe Wesley. Mark Roman recovered the fumble, setting up the Tigers at the Notre Dame 24. Five plays later, Wade Richey tied the game with a 37-yard field goal.

Notre Dame led 6-3 at halftime after Cengia’s 21-yard field goal, but LSU’s defense and a backup tailback dominated after halftime.

Rondell Mealey, filling in for injured Kevin Faulk, rushed for 192 of his 222 yards after halftime. His Independence Bowl-record 78-yard run in the fourth quarter set up his 2-yard TD run that made it 20-9.

LSU 27, Notre Dame 9

Notre Dame 3 3 0 3 - 9

Louisiana State 0 3 10 14 - 27

First quarter

ND-FG Cengia 33, 7:13.

Second quarter

LSU-FG Richey 37, 7:12.

ND-FG Cengia 21, :20.

Third quarter

LSU-FG Richey 42, 9:17.

LSU-Abram 12 pass from Tyler (Richey kick), 4:05.

Fourth quarter

ND-FG Cengia 33, 13:10.

LSU-Mealey 2 run (Richey kick), 12:47.

LSU-Mealey 1 run (Richey kick), 2:22.

A-50,459.

ND LSU

First downs 19 19

Rushes-yards 41-128 52-265

Passing 115 61

Comp-Att-Int 13-25-0 5-12-0

Return Yards 84 72

Punts-Avg. 5-45 4-36

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-30 5-55

Time of Possession 29:56 30:04

Individual statistics

RUSHING-Notre Dame, Denson 20-101, Barry 8-43, Driver 1-1, Stokes 1-(minus 2), Jackson 4-(minus 2), Powlus 7-(minus 13). LSU, Mealey 34-222, Banks 6-23, Tyler 9-13, Faulk 3-7.

PASSING-Notre Dame, Powlus 8-18-0-66, Jackson 5-7-0-49. LSU, Tyler 5-12-0-61.

RECEIVING-Notre Dame, Johnson 5-49, Denson 3-32, Getherall 3-23, Brown 1-10, Barry 1-1. LSU, Booty 5-61.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-LSU, Richey 42.