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Game Notes
Nov. 23, 1996
Final Home Game Is A Winner For Holtz, 62-0
By Mike Day
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- It was a truly magical day at Notre
Dame Stadium. Lou Holtz coached his final game at the house that
Rockne built after announcing his resignation earlier in the
week.
The Irish also played for the last time in majestic Notre Dame
Stadium, as the 22,000 seat addition and renovation is scheduled
to be completed in time for next season.
To add to the historic day, Irish quarterback Ron Powlus tossed
four touchdown passes to surpass Rick Mirer as the school's
all-time leader with 42.
Oh, by the way, 10th-ranked Notre Dame dominated Rutgers, 62-0,
before a capacity crowd in South Bend, Ind.
"I think right now we're playing as well as we have in the last
five years," Holtz said after the game.
The numbers seem to prove that. Notre Dame (8-2) finished with
648 yards of total offense. Rutgers (2-8) managed just 43.
Holtz joked prior to the game that his seniors would struggle
because of the tears in their eyes during their final home game.
His fears were put to rest early in the contest. Seniors Robert
Farmer, Pete Chryplewicz and Emmett Mosley each found the end
zone and Powlus, the senior signal-caller, tied a career-high
with his four TD passes.
His first came with 10:22 remaining in the opening quarter when
he found tailback Autry Denson wide open in the corner of the
end zone for an 8-yard score.
"It was good to come out the way we did," Denson said. "We were
able to set the tone and never look back."
After Joey Goodspeed recovered a punt and returned it 33 yards
to up the lead to 14-0, Powlus connected with fullback Jamie
Spencer for a 13-yard score.
"We wanted to come out in the first half and take control of the
game," said Powlus. "By doing that, we were able to give coach
Holtz a victory lap in the second half."
The story of the game though was Holtz's final triumph at Notre
Dame Stadium. The victory was the most lopsided in the Holtz era
and the largest since 1957.
Early in the fourth quarter, the crowd gave its beloved coach
several standing ovations, including the infamous "Lou" chant
that echoed throughout the stadium.
"It's gratifying to close the old stadium the way we did," said
Holtz. "It will never be like that again."
Indeed, it was a magical moment Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame
Stadium.
Game Statistics
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
--- --- --- --- -----
Rutgers 0 0 0 0 0
Notre Dame 21 14 13 14 62
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
ND -- Autry Denson 8 pass from Ron Powlus (Kevin McDonnell kick), 4:38
ND -- Joey Goodspeed 33 return of blocked punt (Kevin McDonnell kick), 8:27
ND -- Jamie Spencer 13 pass from Ron Powlus (Jim Sanson kick), 10:53
Second Quarter
ND -- Robert Farmer 9 run (Jim Sanson kick), 8:47
ND -- Pete Chryplewicz 3 pass from Ron Powlus (Jim Sanson kick), 12:17
Third Quarter
ND -- Malcolm Johnson 42 pass from Ron Powlus (PAT failed), 3:44
ND -- Emmett Mosley 6 run (Jim Sanson kick), 9:07
Fourth Quarter
ND -- Raki Nelson 38 pass from Jarious Jackson (Jim Sanson kick), 0:09
ND -- Robert Farmer 13 run (Jim Sanson kick), 3:27
Rutgers Notre Dame
First downs 6 27
Rushes-yards 36-(-6) 56-329
Passing yards 49 319
Passes (comp-att-int) 3-16-2 17-21-0
Total offense (plays-yards) 52-43 77-648
Fumble returns-yards 2-0 0-0
Punt returns-yards 1-11 5-22
Kickoff returns-yards 10-166 0-0
Interception returns-yards 0-0 2-42
Punts (number-avg) 11-40.0 2-45.0
Sacked-yards lost 5-47 0-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2
Penalties-yards 6-63 10-80
Time of possession 26:18 33:42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Rutgers -- Fauntleroy 9-40, Bosch 8-15, Luna 1-7, Crooks 7-minus
1. Notre Dame -- Farmer 14-117, Denson 13-116, Barry 8-52,
Spencer 6-37.
Passing
Rutgers -- Stephans 3-14-1-49, Sacca 0-2-1-0. Notre Dame --
Powlus 14-18-0-257, Jackson 2-2-0-58.
Receiving
Rutgers -- Holland 1-22, King 1-17, Bosch 1-10. Notre Dame --
Mosley 3-83, Chryplewicz 3-36, Nelson 2-60, Carretta 2-28.
