COLLEGE FOOTBALL LOOK AHEAD

Full practice week ahead for Irish as Spartans loom

The Sports Xchange

September 13, 2016 at 12:10 am.

Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (33) runs the ball as Nevada Wolf Pack defensive end Patrick Choudja (95) defends in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (33) runs the ball as Nevada Wolf Pack defensive end Patrick Choudja (95) defends in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

A short week of practice hardly seemed to matter as Notre Dame bounced back from a double overtime loss a Texas to easily handle Nevada 39-10 last Saturday.

Playing in their home opener in front of their 250th consecutive Notre Dame Stadium sellout, the No. 18 Irish (1-1) used big second and third quarters to blow past the Wolf Pack.

“Our kids put in the time, they put in the effort,” said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. “It wasn’t lucky that they won the game today. They prepared to win. So our winning was the residual of real good preparation. … They deserved to win today.”

Nevada (1-1) from the Mountain West Conference, may not match Notre Dame’s elite level, but the Wolf Pack still presented a credible challenge.

“Nevada may not be a top ten team (but) they play hard, they play physical, and they’re in the right position and well coached,” Kelly said. “Although we may have some more athletic ability, it still gives us a solid evaluation.”

The Irish scored 25 second quarter points and cruised through the second half as they piled up 444 net offensive yards while limiting Nevada to 300, including 99 yards rushing.

Next up is No. 12 and reigning Big ten champion Michigan State (1-0). The teams meet in the 78th renewal of a long rivalry that was on hiatus for the past three years. Notre Dame has won three straight in the series.

The Spartans should have ample rest with an off-week following their 28-13 victory over Furman on Sept. 2.

While many of the Irish have never played against the Spartans, the style of play is familiar.

“You don’t have a lot of film on them from this week, you’ve got one game,” said Kelly. “But generally in a bye week situation you’re just — you’re really just trying to rely on what you’ve seen and who they are and have been in the past. We’ve played Michigan State enough that we have a pretty good understanding of their identity and who they want to be.”

Notre Dame also comes with some injuries, especially to cornerback Shaun Crawford, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon against Nevada and appears lost for the season.

But wide receiver Torii Hunter (concussion) is expected back at practice this week and safety Avery Sebastian (concussion) returned and saw limited time last week against Nevada.

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

–RB Josh Adams topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in his career, collecting 106 yards on just 10 carries in last Saturday’s victory over Nevada. He picked up 43 yards on one dash in the third quarter.

–QB DeShone Kizer went 15-of-18 for 156 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday. He has now had multi-TD passing games in nine of 15 games played. Kizer also scored his second rushing TD of the season on a two-yard draw in the third quarter.

–LB Te’von Coney recorded five solo tackles in his first career start, plus a tackle-for-loss by the sophomore

–WR Equanimous St. Brown had a career-high 49-yard catch on the final play of the opening quarter and went on to register single game highs of six catches and 85 yards.

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