ND Defense Saves The Day

It was a real seesaw battle in South Bend yesterday, as the upstart Washington Huskies came into Notre Dame Stadium and gave the Fighting Irish some fight. But the Irish prevailed in overtime, 37-30.The MVPs of the game were the Irish goal line defense, who stopped Washington cold on three separate series at the one yard line. They kept ND in the game without question.But the glory will go to Jimmy Clausen, who went 23 for 31 and 2 TDs. He threw for a career-high 422 yards. He threw a 67-yard TD to Golden Tate, and a 77-yard pass that set up a field goal. It was Tate's biggest day ever, as he caught nine passes for 244 yards.ND was down 27-22 with 1:20 to play when Clausen hit Kyle Rudolph with a 12-yard TD to give Notre Dame the lead. They went for two points and got it, due to the bulldog running of Robert Hughes. He appeared to be stopped short a few yards of the goal line, but his surge forward got it. It turned to be crucial, as Washington kicked a game-tying FG in the fina...