Irish sacked for first loss of the season at Michigan State
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Updated: 12:05 AM Sep 21, 2008
Irish sacked for first loss of the season at Michigan State
Turnovers, sacks and poor field goal kicking kill the Irish in a 23-7 loss in East Lansing.
Posted: 9:44 PM Sep 20, 2008
Reporter: Angelo Di Carlo
Email Address: angelo.dicarlo@wndu.com
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After giving up a NCAA leading 58 sacks in 2007, the Notre Dame offensive line did not allow a single sack in ND's first two games of the season.

Both games were wins.

That changed Saturday as Jimmy Clausen was sacked three times, was hurried a lot more and threw two interceptions as the Irish lost their first game of the season 23-7 at Michigan State.

Three turnovers were also a killer for the Irish.

Down 3-0 in the 1st quarter, Clausen had a potential touchdown pass intercepted in the endzone by Otis Wiley.

In the 2nd, Wiley again intercepted Clausen. This one came deep in Notre Dame territory and led to a Javon Ringer touchdown that put the Spartans up 10-0 at the half.

In the 3rd, the Irish were again in the MSU red zone when Clausen connected with Michael Floyd at the Spartan 10, but Floyd fumbled and Michigan State took possession.

The Irish finally made something happen on the first play of the 4th quarter as Floyd redeemed himself, making a fantastic catch on a Clausen pass to pull ND with 13-7.

Floyd had 7 catches for 86 yards. Clausen was 24 of 41 for 242 yards, a TD and two interceptions.

Michigan State responded with a big drive that setup a 1st and goal inside the Irish five. But ND defense came up big holding MSU to just a field goal.

That put the Spartans back up by nine, 16-7.

On the ensuing drive, the Irish faced a 3rd and 17, when Golden Tate made a great play to avoid two Spartan defenders and somehow escape with a first down.

But a bad snap caused Brandon Walker to miss his 2nd field goal of the day and the Irish came away with no points.

Ringer then scored another TD to put MSU up 23-7. Ringer had 39 carries for 201 yards and both Spartan TDs.

The Irish running backs, meanwhile, provided almost no yards on the ground. As a team, ND rushed for just 16 yards on 22 carries.

Notre Dame is now 2-1 on the season, while Michigan State improves to 3-1.

Next up for the Irish is Purdue next Saturday at the Stadium.



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