In Holtz's Absence, Irish Dominate Commodores in 41-0 Win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Marc Edwards ran for a pair of one-yard scores and No. 24 Notre Dame responded to the absence of head coach Lou Holtz with a 41-0 thrashing of Vanderbilt.

The Fighting Irish (2-1) were coached by defensive coordinator Bob Davie as Holtz continued his recovery from major surgery to correct a serious compression of the spinal cord. Holtz is not expected to return to coaching for about three to four weeks, but left the clinic today.

It was Notre Dame's first shutout since October 9, 1993, a 44-0 drubbing of Pittsburgh.

The Irish went up 27-0 in the first half before Edwards slammed the door with his two scoring runs in the second half. He scored with 2:35 left in the third quarter and with 10:26 remaining in the game.

Notre Dame scored on a six-yard run by Randy Kinder midway through the first quarter and Kevin Kopka kicked a 38-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to make it 10-0.

Kinder carried 17 times for 110 yards and Edwards gained 32 yards on seven rushes as the Irish outgained the Commodores 493-94. Notre Dame racked up 293 yards on the ground and Ron Powlus was 13-of-18 for 200 yards.

Autry Denson had a five-yard touchdown run with 6:39 left in the second quarter and Jarvis Edison returned a fumble eight yards for a score 12 seconds later, giving Notre Dame a 24-point lead. After Denson's score, Corey Chavous returned the kickoff to the 20 before fumbling. The ball was kicked by a group of players before Edison retrieved it on the 8 and scored.

Kopka booted a 22-yarder with 42 seconds left in the half as the Irish assumed a 27-0 edge.

The Irish defense limited Vanderbilt to just 56 rushing yards on 30 carries and allowed only 38 yards through the air. Notre Dame held nearly a 20-minute advantage in time of possession. Vanderbilt had just seven first downs to 28 for Notre Dame.

At: Notre Dame Stadium
Date: Sept. 16, 1995
Att: 59,075
Vanderbilt             0  0  0  0 -  0    
Notre Dame (24)        7 20  7  7 - 41      
ND--Kinder 6 run (Kopka kick) 
ND--FG Kopka 38 
ND--A. Denson 5 run (Kopka kick) 
ND--Edison 8 fumble return (Kopka kick) 
ND--FG Kopka 22 
ND--Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick) 
ND--Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick) 

                      VAND          ND
First downs              7          28
Rushes-yards         30-56      66-293
Passing yards           38         200
Sacked-yards lost     3-17         1-5
Return yards             0          75
Comp.-Att.-Int.     3-14-1     13-18-0
Punts               5-47.8      2-20.0
Fumbles-lost           4-3         5-1
Penalties-yards       2-21        5-39
Time of possession   20:31       39:29
  
    
RUSHING:
Vanderbilt-Johnson 13-38, Deese 4-6, 
Marinangel 1-6, Jas. Dunnavant 2-5, 
Gordon 1-2, Allen 9-minus 1.
Notre Dame-Kinder 17-110, R. Farmer 14-58, 
A. Denson 12-38, M. Thorne 2-34, 
Edwards 7-32, C. Stokes 4-14, Barry 2-11, 
Spencer 2-6, Powlus 5-minus 5, 
Krug 1-minus 5. 
PASSING:
Vanderbilt-Allen 3-12-0-38, Gordon 0-2-1-0.
Notre Dame-Powlus 13-18-0-200. 
RECEIVING:
Vanderbilt-R. Simmons 1-24, Tomichek 1-10, 
Deese 1-4.
Notre Dame-Mayes 3-56, Edwards 3-46, 
Wallace 2-41, Mosley 2-28, Chryplewicz 2-25, 
Kinder 1-4.