October 27, 1973
Southern Cal at Notre Dame
Coach John McKay’s 6th ranked, 5-0-1 Southern Cal Trojans came to South Bend with a 23-game unbeaten streak for the annual battle with Notre Dame. Coach Ara Parseghian had the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 5-0 & ranked 8th in the nation but they had not defeated Southern Cal since 1966. Notre Dame’s top-ranked defense had only allowed 2 touchdowns through the first 5 games & they held Southern Cal’s All-Pac 8 RB Anthony Davis to 50 yards rushing while the Notre Dame offense capitalized on 316 yards rushing including an 85-yard touchdown run by RB Eric Penick to gain a 23-14 victory claiming their first Belt reign. Fighting Irish’ PK Bob Thomas hit a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 Notre Dame lead after CB Tim Rudnick partially blocked a Southern Cal punt. The Trojans got a 1-yard touchdown run from Davis for their only lead of the game at 7-3. In the 2nd quarter, Thomas hit a 32-yard field goal & QB Tom Clements scored on a 4th down, 1-yard touchdown run with 0:30 left in the quarter for a 13-7 halftime lead. Penick’s run came on Notre Dame’s first offensive play of the 3rd quarter as the Fighting Irish pushed the lead to 20-7. Southern Cal’s QB Pat Haden found All-American WR Lynn Swann for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Swann’s catch came despite excellent defense by the Notre Dame defender & when he touched his toes in the end zone before going out-of-bounds, the Trojans had moved to within 6 points at 20-14. Thomas hit his third field goal, this one from 32 yards, for a 23-14 Fighting Irish advantage. Neither team was able to score in the 4th quarter & the final Southern Cal effort ended when Notre Dame’s CB Luther Bradley intercepted Haden for the second time in the game at the Notre Dame 29-yard line with 2:36 to play. The Fighting Irish held the ball for 39:36 of the game while Southern Cal managed to convert only 1 of 8 third downs. Clements threw for 89 yards while rushing for 50 yards with a touchdown & Penick rushed for 118 yards with his touchdown while the Fighting Irish held the ball for 39:36 of the game. Haden threw for 175 yards with a touchdown but 2 interceptions in the loss. Southern Cal finished the season 9-2-1; Pac-8 Champions & ranked 8th nationally while Notre Dame finished the season 11-0 & claimed the National Championship. Southern Cal would play again for The Belt in 1977.
The College Football Belt
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