With only two games left in the regular season, the Irish appear to be playing their best football of the 2011 campaign after their 45-21 victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday evening from the nation’s capitol.
In what has been a recipe for success the last couple of weeks, the Irish got off to a fast start to begin the first quarter. On their first drive of the game, Notre Dame moved the ball with ease to set up a one-yard touchdown run from Jonas Gray. The Irish would add a David Ruffer 52-yard field goal later in the quarter to go up 10-0.
The second quarter bought more of the same for Notre Dame. Tommy Rees would throw one of his two touchdown passes on the evening to Michael Floyd for a 19-yard score. Maryland would finally get on the scoreboard on their next possession, but the Irish would answer on a drive right before the half to head into the locker room up 17.
With the game well in-hand in the second half, the home team continued to pile on. On their first drive of the second half, the Irish would have a 14-play, 84-yard drive that finished with a Cierre Wood four-yard run into the end zone to go up 24 points.
Notre Dame’s defense would also get on the scoreboard. With Maryland driving on their first possession of the second half, Danny O’Brien would throw a pick to Lo Wood and the Irish sophomore cornerback would return it for a 57-yard touchdown. It was the first interception and first touchdown of his career.
The fourth quarter would see a lot of Notre Dame second and third teamers on the field. Maryland would add a pair of scoring drives with an Irish scoring drive mixed in the middle.
After another impressive victory, the Irish will have their last home game of the 2011 season on Saturday when they face a woefully bad Boston College team.
