DEACONS PASSING
The Irish have seen Wake Forest junior quarterback Tanner Price before. Last season, Price threw for 187 yards and a touchdown on efficient 17-for-24 passing in Notre Dame's 24-17 win on Nov. 5, 2011. The junior has thrown for 1,965 yards and 12 touchdown, averaging just under 200 passing yards per game. In Wake Forest's 28-14 win over Boston College on Nov. 3, Price set a career high in completions and pass attempts, throwing for 293 yards and three kids on 39-for-57 passing.
After facing Boston College's do-it-all receiver Alex Amidon, Notre Dame will face another in redshirt junior slot receiver Michael Campanaro. Campanaro tied an ACC record with 16 receptions against Boston College, while adding three receiving touchdowns. Campanaro leads the ACC in receptions per game, with 8.1 and has 21 receptions in the last two games. Despite missing two games with a broken hand, the versatile slot receiver has six touchdowns and 618 yards and 65 receptions. In a 37-6 loss to N.C. State on Saturday, Campanaro even threw a touchdown for the Deacons' only score of the day.
The Deacons bring the 111th best offense in the country, averaging only 309.7 yards per game, into Notre Dame Stadium against the No. 1 scoring defense in the country. Notre Dame's defense gives up only 11.1 points per game and 295.2 yards per game. Only seven teams in the last 11 years have held opponents to less than 11.1 points per game. In a 21-6 win over Boston College on Saturday, senior linebacker MantiTe'o recorded his sixth interception of the year, the second most by a FBS linebacker in the last 11 years. Sophomore defensive end leads all underclassmen in the nation with 11 sacks, while junior linebacker Prince Shembo had three sacks against Boston College.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
DEACONS RUSHING
Redshirt junior running back Josh Harris leads the Deacons in rushing with 607 yards and five touchdowns on 136 carries. Backing up Harris is redshirt freshman Deandre Martin, who has rushed for 371 yards and five touchdowns on 394 carries. The duo each had a 100-yard rushing performance with four touchdowns between the two of them in a 49-37 win over Army on Sept. 22. But Wake Forest has one of the worst rushing offenses in the country, ranked 111th in the country with 102.7 rushing yards per game.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame has the sixth-best rushing defense in the country, giving up 95.9 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame has held four opponents to under 10 points and is the only team in the FBS to have not allowed a touchdown drive of longer than 95 yards. Against Boston College, the Irish allowed 53 yards rushing on 23 rushing attempts.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
DEACONS OFFENSIVE COACHING
Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco will have another pass-heavy offense to deal with, but stopping the running game shouldn't be too much of a problem for the Irish.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
DEACONS SPECIAL TEAMS
Notre Dame limited Boston College's electric return game to 18.7 yards per return. The Deacons rank 118th in the country in kick returns, averaging 16.5 yards per return. Redshirt freshman kicker Chad Hedlund replaced senior kicker Jimmy Newman and is 3-for-3 this year with a long of 44 yards.
EDGE: EVEN
DEACONS SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 Liberty W 20-17
Sept. 8 North Carolina W 28-27
Sept. 15 @ Florida State L 52-0
Sept. 22 Army W 49-37
Sept. 29 Duke L 34-27
Oct. 6 @ Maryland L 19-14
Oct. 20 @ Virginia W 16-10
Oct. 25 Clemson L 42-13
Nov. 3 Boston College W 28-14
