Notre Dame Gets Defensive With Pasadena, 49-14

As birthdays go, Jonathon Brewster’s 18th wasn’t bad.

But the senior quarterback for Notre Dame High didn’t have quite as big a Friday night as the Knights’ defense.

Notre Dame forced six turnovers, including four first-half interceptions, on the way to a 49-14 victory over Pasadena in a nonleague game at Pasadena City College.

Safety Phil Beckmann highlighted the defensive effort by returning the second of his two interceptions 45 yards for a touchdown to give the Knights a 28-7 lead in the second quarter.

Cornerback Jim Sharp had two interceptions in the first half, setting up a touchdown for Notre Dame (4-1) with his first and the ending the first half with his second.

Running back Trevin Lund scored the Knights’ first two touchdowns on runs of three and five yards in the first quarter. He finished with 108 yards in 12 carries.

Brewster gave Notre Dame a 21-7 lead on a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He did not play in the second half after taking a blow to the head late in the second quarter. Coach Kevin Rooney said Brewster could have played but was held out as a precaution.

Beckmann replaced Brewster and completed all three of his passes for 62 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown to Stephen Stromsborg midway through the third quarter for the Knights’ final score.

Travis Johnson, Notre Dame’s All-American defensive lineman, had a sack, a fumble recovery and three-yard touchdown run.

Pasadena fell to 1-4.