Notre Dame Rallies Behind Craigwell, 18-17

On the surface, quarterback Jabbar Craigwell was the hero in Notre Dame’s 18-17 come-from-behind nonleague victory against Glendale on Saturday.

Don’t tell him that, though.

“I didn’t bring us back,” Craigwell said. “Our line and our running backs did. I think our offensive line dominated.”

The Notre Dame offensive line helped the Knights drive 73 yards for the winning points with less than a minute to play. Craigwell hit Joey Orlando with a 17-yard pass to bring Notre Dame within one. He then connected with Orlando again on the two-point conversion to give the Knights the victory.

The decisive drive was also helped by junior tailback John Garcia, who gained 25 yards on the march and 127 in 13 carries in the game. Garcia was playing in place of the injured Jon Velasquez.

Craigwell needed to rally his team because it was his fumble that nearly cost Notre Dame the game after a previous comeback over a halftime deficit.

Leading 10-9 and driving for another score late in the fourth quarter, Craigwell fumbled at the Glendale six, and Jay Register returned the ball 94 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Ramon Jose scored the two-point conversion on a keeper, giving Glendale a 17-10 lead.

Notre Dame took the ball back with 4 minutes 24 seconds left.

“I was shaken up a little,” Craigwell said, “but I told myself I had to get back in the game. I wasn’t going to lose this one.”

Craigwell completed 10 of 15 passes--including his last six--for 141 yards. He also ran for 60 yards in 10 carries.

Glendale (2-1) took advantage of two Notre Dame turnovers and poor tackling on one play to take a lead in the first half.

Notre Dame drove to the Glendale 12 on the game’s opening possession, but David Dupetit had the ball pulled out of his arms by Glendale’s Kenneth Ng.

The Dynamiters then took the ball 88 yards for a touchdown, including a 66-yard run by Register. Chris Carr scored two plays later on a three-yard run, but the extra point was blocked and Glendale led, 6-0.

Notre Dame answered with a 28-yard field goal by Chris Sailer. But Glendale got another break in the second quarter, when Mike DiMartinis fumbled a punt at the Notre Dame 32.

Glendale drove to the Knights’ one before the drive stalled and the Dynamiters settled for a 23-yard field goal by Ramiro Munoz, giving Glendale a 9-3 halftime lead.