College football: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly believes in QB SeShone Kizer

The last-minute victory was tempered when Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said after the game that Zaire would be out for the season with a fractured ankle. Kelly expressed pride in his Irish players, who, he said, “never got to the point where they didn’t believe they could win”.

Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire (8) is driven off the field after injuring his right ankle during an NCAA college football game against Virginia, Saturday, September 12, 2015, in Charlottesville, Va. Notre Dame defeated Virginia 34-27. “It is unfortunate, but it is what it is, and we will find a way to put it together, so we can win games with DeShone Kizer as our starting quarterback”.

Kizer threw for two touchdowns, his first in the third quarter got Notre Dame a 26-14 lead. He then completed his next three passes for 29 yards before Fuller snagged the winning score.

“It was actually a read pass/run, so if he had zone coverage we were going to throw a little quick gain to pick up the first down”, Kelly said.

“We move onto our next opponent and take care of ourselves”, London said. The Cavaliers were out-gained 154 yards to 28 by Notre Dame, while only picking up one first down compared to nine for the Irish. Many thought Zaire could be the quarterback to lead Notre Dame to the college football playoffs. Not that a Notre Dame football team has ever been overrated.

“In a game like that where you’re the underdog, you’re going to get a couple of chances a half”, Berbary said. “I think he’s going to probably peak here in the next couple of weeks in getting himself back to where he was”.

Cornerback Blake Countess of No. 6 Auburn was tossed during the first half against Jacksonville State; linebacker Lorenzo Carter of No. 10 Georgia was ruled out minutes into the game at Vanderbilt; and cornerback Tee Shepard of No. 17 Mississippi was ejected in the third quarter against Fresno State. Johns was 26-of-38 for 289 yards on the day, including a 42-yard pass to junior receiver Keeon Johnson on a trick play that had Johns originally line up at receiver. “I was very pleased with the progress from game one to game two”. He said Kizers package is geared more toward the pass, but he can run as well. “But it’s correctable things”.

The Irish registered their third straight 2-0 victory on Sunday, which was also their sixth shutout in eight matches this season.

The Irish were already without starting running back Tarean Folston, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the team’s opener against Texas. Kizer stepped in for Zaire, and looked relaxed and confident.

After losing starting quarterback Malik Zaire to an injury, Notre Dame found itself trailing with only seconds left and its backup quarterback in the game.

In other games involving MAC teams, Cooper Rush threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns, including an 83-yarder to Ben McCord, to help Central Michigan beat Monmouth (N.J.) 31-10 at Mount Pleasant, Mich….

“Heck yeah”, Kelly said when asked if his team could still be successful.

“Those are hard injuries.