SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 5, 2013
Notre Dame 37, No. 24 Arizona State 34: Tommy Rees threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns and TJ Jones added 135 receiving yards and a score as the Fighting Irish edged the Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Taylor Kelly was 33-of-47 for 362 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Arizona State (3-2), which trailed 37-27 after Dan Fox intercepted Kelly with 1:08 remaining and returned it 14 yards for a score. Kelly tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Marion Grice with 11 seconds to play before the Fighting Irish (4-2) recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Kyle Brindza kicked three field goals, including one from 33 yards out with 3:03 remaining to put Notre Dame ahead 30-27. The Fighting Irish held Arizona State to 427 total yards and forced three turnovers, one week after the Sun Devils exploded for 612 total yards in a 62-41 win over USC.
The teams combined for 21 points in the final 3:35 of the first half, beginning with Reesกฏ 19-yard touchdown pass to Ben Koyack to put Notre Dame ahead 7-6. Arizona State answered on its next drive with Kellyกฏs 36-yard TD pass to Jaelen Strong before the Fighting Irish closed the half on Reesกฏ 8-yard TD pass to Jones.
Notre Dame grabbed a 17-13 lead on Brindzaกฏs career-long 53-yard field goal early in the third quarter and an Arizona State fumble led to Reesกฏ 21-yard TD pass to Troy Niklas with 3:54 left in the quarter. The Sun Devils cut the deficit to 24-20 when Osahon Irabor intercepted Rees and returned it 37 yards for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Notre Dame LB Jarrett Grace, who entered the game as the teamกฏs leading tackler, left the game in the second quarter with a broken right leg. กญ Strong had 136 receiving yards for Arizona State, which was seeking to become the first team to defeat USC and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks. กญ Notre Dame improved to 10-1 in its last 11 regular-season games played at an NFL stadium.