Short-handed USC defense puts up strong effort against Notre Dame

USC’s three defensive senior captains did not have the season they expected they would have by any stretch of the imagination.

That continued until the very end on Saturday night, as safety Marvell Tell did not play against Notre Dame because of a sprained ankle sustained in the UCLA loss. He joined fellow captain Porter Gustin, who was lost for the season with a broken foot on Oct. 13 against Colorado, in walking out for the coin toss in a jersey but no pads.

The last man standing of the three, inside linebacker Cameron Smith, also missed three games this season because of a hamstring injury.

Smith was out there for his last game at the Coliseum on Saturday night, leading the Trojans in tackles during the first half with six.

The Trojans put together a tremendous defensive effort in the first 30 minutes, holding No. 3 Notre Dame to only a touchdown in taking a 10-7 lead to the half.

They were also without inside linebacker John Houston, who injured his hamstring against UCLA. Against the Bruins, senior Reuben Peters filled in for Houston, and the Trojans were gashed in the run game by UCLA running back Joshua Kelley the entire second half.

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USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown fumbles after a reception as Notre Dame’s Alohi Gilman makes the tackle and Drue Tranquill helps in the fourth quarter at the Coliseum. Notre Dame recovered the ball.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

2/17

USC quarterback J.T. Daniels gets a pass off in front of Notre Dame’s Kahlid Kareem at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

3/17

USC running back Vavae Malepeai picks up yards over Notre Dame’s Aldi Gilman at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

4/17

Notre Dame receiver Chris Finke catches a touchdown pass in front of USC’s Jonathan Lockett in the second quarter at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

5/17

USC running back Markese Stepp tries to break a tackle by Notre Dame’s Drue Tranquill at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

6/17

USC’s Marlon Tuipulotu sacks Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book in the second quarter at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Notre Dame tight end Miles Boykin makes a catch in front of USC cornerback Isaiah Langley in the second quarter at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

8/17

USC receiver Tyler Vaughns catches a touchdown pass in front of Notre Dame’s Troy Pride late in the fourth quarter at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

9/17

USC head coach Clay Helton kisses running back Vavae Malepeai after losing to Notre Dame at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

10/17

Notre Dame’s Troy Price recovers a fumble by USC receiver Michael Pittman in the first quarter at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

11/17

A plane flies a banner asking for the firing of USC head coach Clay Helton before the game against Notre Dame at the Coliseum.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

12/17

Notre Dame receiver Chris Finke catches a touchdown pass in front of USC’s Jonathan Lockett in the second quarter at the Coliseum Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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USC running back Vavae Malepeai scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame defense in the first quarter at the Coliseum Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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USC defenders Ajene Harris (27) and Iman Marshall celebrate after stopping Notre Dame on fourth down in the second quarter at the Coliseum Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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USC head coach Clay Helton complains to officials in the second quarter at the Coliseum Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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USC receiver Michael Pittman fumbles the ball as Notre Dame’s Troy Price makes the tackle in the first quarter at the Coliseum Saturday. Notre Dame recovered the ball.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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USC head coach Clay Helton prepares to take his team on to the field at the Coliseum Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A big reason USC was able to play so well without Houston this time was the move of true freshman linebacker Palaie Gaoteote IV to Houston’s weak inside linebacker spot. Gaoteote had filled in when Smith was out earlier this season and showed flashes of what made him a five-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.

In the first half Saturday, Gaoteote was all over the field, collecting four tackles including a key sack of Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book that gave the Trojans early momentum.

Filling in for Tell was little-used true freshman defensive back Chase Williams, who had two tackles in the first half.

Book opening

With seven minutes left in the second quarter, Notre Dame embarked on its first scoring drive of the game.

Facing third and 10, Book started to find a rhythm with wide receiver Chris Finke on an 18-yard completion. Three plays later, on third and 11, Book had nobody open but bought time and then sprinted across the field for an 11-yard gain and another first down. On third andeight later on the drive, Book found Finke for a nine-yard completion.

Book, clearly seeing a trend, looked Finke’s way again for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Finke had seven catches for 86 yards in the first half.

In Stepp

With running back Stephen Carr out for the third straight game with a high ankle sprain, the Trojans have been prepping freshman Markese Stepp for an extended role.

Because of a new NCAA rule that allows players to participate in up to four games without losing their ability to redshirt, it made sense for USC to use Stepp in this capacity.

Stepp carried five times for 23 yards Saturday, playing in his fourth game of the season.

He will use this season as a redshirt year.

Slow start

Notre Dame’s success this season has, for the most part, been marked by quick starts.

Before Saturday night, the Irish had outscored their opponents 112-23 in the first 15 minutes, building a first-quarter lead in nine of 10 victories.

When they fell behind USC, 10-0, early in the second quarter, it marked their first double-digit deficit, setting the stage for their biggest comeback this fall.

Staff writer David Wharton contributed to this report.

brady.mccollough@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradyMcCollough