In Holtz’s Absence, Irish Dominate Commodores in 41-0 Win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Marc Edwards ran for a pair of one-yard scores and No. 24 Notre Dame responded to the absence of head coach Lou Holtz with a 41-0 thrashing of Vanderbilt.

The Fighting Irish (2-1) were coached by defensive coordinatorBob Davie as Holtz continued his recovery from major surgery tocorrect a serious compression of the spinal cord. Holtz is notexpected to return to coaching for about three to four weeks,but left the clinic today.

It was Notre Dame’s first shutout since October 9, 1993, a44-0 drubbing of Pittsburgh.

The Irish went up 27-0 in the first half before Edwards slammedthe door with his two scoring runs in the second half. He scoredwith 2:35 left in the third quarter and with 10:26 remaining inthe game.

Notre Dame scored on a six-yard run by Randy Kinder midwaythrough the first quarter and Kevin Kopka kicked a 38-yard fieldgoal on the first play of the second quarter to make it 10-0.

Kinder carried 17 times for 110 yards and Edwards gained 32yards on seven rushes as the Irish outgained the Commodores493-94. Notre Dame racked up 293 yards on the ground and RonPowlus was 13-of-18 for 200 yards.

Autry Denson had a five-yard touchdown run with 6:39 left in thesecond quarter and Jarvis Edison returned a fumble eight yardsfor a score 12 seconds later, giving Notre Dame a 24-point lead.After Denson’s score, Corey Chavous returned the kickoff to the20 before fumbling. The ball was kicked by a group of playersbefore Edison retrieved it on the 8 and scored.

Kopka booted a 22-yarder with 42 seconds left in the half as theIrish assumed a 27-0 edge.

The Irish defense limited Vanderbilt to just 56 rushing yards on30 carries and allowed only 38 yards through the air. Notre Dameheld nearly a 20-minute advantage in time of possession.Vanderbilt had just seven first downs to 28 for Notre Dame.

Game Statistics

At: Notre Dame StadiumDate: Sept. 16, 1995Att: 59,075Vanderbilt             0  0  0  0 -  0    Notre Dame (24)        7 20  7  7 - 41      ND--Kinder 6 run (Kopka kick) ND--FG Kopka 38 ND--A. Denson 5 run (Kopka kick) ND--Edison 8 fumble return (Kopka kick) ND--FG Kopka 22 ND--Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick) ND--Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick)                       VAND          NDFirst downs              7          28Rushes-yards         30-56      66-293Passing yards           38         200Sacked-yards lost     3-17         1-5Return yards             0          75Comp.-Att.-Int.     3-14-1     13-18-0Punts               5-47.8      2-20.0Fumbles-lost           4-3         5-1Penalties-yards       2-21        5-39Time of possession   20:31       39:29      RUSHING:Vanderbilt-Johnson 13-38, Deese 4-6, Marinangel 1-6, Jas. Dunnavant 2-5, Gordon 1-2, Allen 9-minus 1.Notre Dame-Kinder 17-110, R. Farmer 14-58, A. Denson 12-38, M. Thorne 2-34, Edwards 7-32, C. Stokes 4-14, Barry 2-11, Spencer 2-6, Powlus 5-minus 5, Krug 1-minus 5. PASSING:Vanderbilt-Allen 3-12-0-38, Gordon 0-2-1-0.Notre Dame-Powlus 13-18-0-200. RECEIVING:Vanderbilt-R. Simmons 1-24, Tomichek 1-10, Deese 1-4.Notre Dame-Mayes 3-56, Edwards 3-46, Wallace 2-41, Mosley 2-28, Chryplewicz 2-25, Kinder 1-4.