By By ERIKA PICKLES / Dowagiac Daily News
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Some people thought Notre Dame's unimpressive season opening performance against Georgia Tech was a good sign for Penn State. Some also thought that maybe, just maybe, the Fighting Irish were overrated.
Well, they thought wrong.
Notre Dame's performance during Saturday's opener against Penn State not only proved why the Irish are ranked in the top five, but that it only takes one week to bounce back.
The Fighting Irish (2-0) made up for their opening performance by pounding the No. 19 Nittany Lions, 41-17.
Notre Dame, who ended Penn State's six-game winning streak, dominated offensively, defensively and on special teams. They didn't commit one turnover and forced three by Penn State.
Brady Quinn completed 25 of 36 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, as the Irish offense lived up to its preseason hype in its second game.
An impressive first half gave Notre Dame a 20-0 lead at halftime. Quinn completed two successful touchdown drives to help put the Irish on the board.
He hit Jeff Samardzija with a 7-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone with 3:58 left in the half. He then provided the Irish with another score in the final minute, completing five consecutive passes and capping the drive with a 9-yard touchdown throw to Rhema McKnight with seven seconds left.
Tom Zbikowski's 25-yard touchdown return on a fumble gave Notre Dame a 27-0 lead early in the third quarter.
Facing a fourth down on the 1-yard line, backup tailback Travis Thomas, who also played on defense and on special teams, carried the ball into the end zone to give the Irish a 34-3 advantage.
The Irish hit paydirt one final time in the fourth when Quinn added a 15-yard toss to Darius Walker, bumping the lead to 41-3.
Deon Butler and Daryll Clark scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Penn State, which is now 1-1.
This was the first time in 14 years the two teams met on the field. The snowy November day in 1992 is still well remembered as the "Snow Bowl" as it covered the field at Notre Dame's stadium. The Irish were able to pull of a 17-15 victory in the final seconds of the game.
The Irish stay in the comfort of their own home on Saturday when they host Michigan.
Penn State 0 0 3 14 – 17
Notre Dame 3 17 14 7 – 41
UND – Gioia, Carl 35 yd field goal
UND – Gioia, Carl 35 yd field goal
UND – Samardzija, Jeff 7 yd pass from Quinn, Brady (Gioia kick)
UND – McKnight, Rhema 9 yd pass from Quinn, Brady (Gioia kick)
UND – Zbikowski, Tom 25 yd fumble recovery (Gioia kick)
PSU – KELLY, Kevin 28 yd field goal
UND – Thomas, Travis 1 yd run (Gioia kick)
UND – Walker, Darius 15 yd pass from Quinn (Gioia kick)
PSU – BUTLER, Deon 2 yd pass from Morelli, Anthony (Kelly, Kevin kick)
PSU – CLARK, Daryll 5 yd run (Kelly kick)