Notre Dame Overcomes Alemany

Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney provided all the inspiration the Knights needed Friday night.

The Knights trailed, 14-0, midway through the second quarter, but rallied with four second-half touchdowns to beat host Alemany, 35-14.

Alemany looked unstoppable in the first half, outgaining the Knights, 214 yards to 137. Tailback Terry Barnum rushed for 98 yards in 14 carries to help the Indians to a 14-7 lead.

But Rooney woke up his team at halftime.

“He kinda chewed us out a bit at halftime,” quarterback Steve Colella said. “We expected to come in and kick their butts. We’ve been scoring quick and often . . . pretty much at will. But they came out and stuffed us in the first half.

“(Coach Rooney) just said if we let them continue to do that, we were gonna get killed.”

Colella took Rooney’s words to heart, marching the Knights downfield on a six-play, 65-yard journey to the end zone. Setefano Malieitulua, who gained 94 yards in 17 carries, then scored on a four-yard run to tie the score, 14-14.

Alemany gained just 12 yards in its two third-quarter possessions.

Notre Dame’s go-ahead touchdown came on a pass play after a reverse. Colella handed off to Malieitulua, who in turn handed off to wide receiver Vinnie Orlando, who threw a 56-yard pass to tight end Aaron Jones breaking across the field all alone.

Alemany could get no closer than Notre Dame’s 27-yard line thereafter.

Colella scored on a one-yard run with 9 minutes 58 seconds remaining to give Notre Dame a 28-14 lead.

Less than six minutes later, Colella found Orlando in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown strike.

Colella completed 14 of 22 passes for 164 yards.