SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame set the tone early on Saturday night for its biggest scoring output against USC since 1977 with a 21-point first quarter.
With big first-quarter scoring plays from Will Fuller and C.J. Prosise, as well as a blocked punt for a touchdown, Notre Dame jumped ahead early and then rallied for a 41-31 victory over the Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. It’s the first time the No. 14-ranked Irish have ever scored 21 points in any quarter against USC in 87 meetings between the intersectional rivals.
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“When you have playmakers like we have with C.J. Prosise and Will Fuller, it's really tough for a defense to hold us off for all four quarters,” quarterback DeShone Kizer said.
Trailing 7-0 after the Trojans scored on 71-yard opening drive, Notre Dame needed one play to even the score as Fuller outraced everyone on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Kizer. A little more than five minutes later, Prosise, who finished with 143 yards on 19 carries, raced in from 25 yards out to give Notre Dame a 14-10 lead. Amir Carlisle’s 5-yard blocked punt return with 5:04 left in the first quarter made it a 21-10 contest.
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While the Irish only scored three points between the second and third quarters, they picked up the pace in the fourth quarter. Prosise’s 6-yard TD run tied the game with 14:20 left and Corey Robinson caught a 10-yarder from Kizer at the 9:06 mark to pull ahead for good. Justin Yoon added a 32-yard field goal as Notre Dame scored the most it hasagainst the Trojans since producing a 49-14 victory in the “Green Jersey Game” in 1977.
Notre Dame improved to 46-36-5 in the all-time series.