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Deshone Kizer Leads Notre Dame to Heroic Victory

By Dave McKee

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Sep 12, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws the game-winning touchdown pass over Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Micah Kiser (53) with twelve seconds left in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium. The Fighting Irish won 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

A New Hope emerges, sophomore Quarterback DeShone Kizer led the Irish to a heroic comeback victory.

Now, consider this, think of the situation surround DeShone Kizer before the Irish took the field with two minutes remaining. Kizer, whose first passing play of his college career was a shovel pass on a trick play in the first quarter of this very game, was being asked to lead the Irish down the field for the game-winning drive. According to Prosise, who spoke with the media after the game, there was no doubt.

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Prosise told reporters, “going into that last drive there was no doubt in our mind we were going make the play to win the game.” A great statement by a teammate, but as the tv camera panned the faces of the Notre Dame fans in the crowd there were a lot of doubts. Some fans looked absolutely dejected. Some looked frustrated and pondering where the nearest exit was.

However, others cheered louder and believed no matter what. After all, this is the Fighting Irish we’re talking about. They have to fight. This game, was a back-and-forth, toe-to-toe slugging match between two teams that would not say die.

Sep 12, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver William Fuller (7) catches a touchdown pass against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Still, it would take a heroic effort by Kizer to win this game. That moment is what every football player’s dreams of as a child. To lead their team down the field on “the drive” – a la Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIII – running the two-minute drill driving the length of the field to seal the game away.

Kizer lived that very dream tonight. He put on a heroic effort for the ages. When Kizer and the Irish took the field for the final possession they had two minutes and three timeouts to drive 80 yards for the score. Once Kizer was under center he looked poised and completely under control after all 2:00 with three timeouts is an eternity in football terms.

Kizer orchestrated an amazing 80-yard scoring drive. The Irish drove down the field taking what the Cavaliers defense would give them and managing the clock with their timeouts. Then came the Irish’s 10th failed third down conversion after Kizer stared-down Fuller allowing the defensive back to react and break up the pass. That’s right, Notre Dame when 0-for-10 on third down for the game.

On 4th and 2, instead of handing it off to Prosise – who had 155 yards rushing – Kizer carried the rock himself on a QB draw and picked up the clutch first down. After a check down play, where Kizer shook a defender rolled right and completed a dart for the gain, the Irish were nearing field goal range. With 0:19 remaining in the 4th quarter, Kizer dropped back slid in the pocket and dropped a dime on Will Fuller, a 39-yard bomb for the game-winning touchdown. Epic. Legendary. Miraculous. There are several adjectives to describe the end to this game. It was a truly heroic effort and finish by DeShone Kizer and his teammates:

This time when the cameras panned the crowd there was shocked and stunned faces of the Cavalier’s student body and…. This guy, the newest internet sensation:

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