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H.S. Football: Dallas’ powerful running game takes on Berwick’s swarming defense

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<p>SOUTH BEND, Ind. &#8212; It isn&#8217;t often that Brian Kelly has to get his team&#8217;s attention. </p><p>Late in Saturday&#8217;s 30-27 victory over Southern California that moved the Irish to 5-1, Kelly tried. He raced out onto the field to get a timeout from officials as the Trojans lined up to attempt an onside kick late in the game.</p><p>Kelly wasn&#8217;t successful but neither were the Trojans as tight end Brock Wright fielded the kick cleanly to seal the win and keep his eighth-ranked team&#8217;s hopes alive for a College Football Playoff appearance for the second straight season.</p><p>Since a 23-17 loss at then-No. 3 Georgia, Notre Dame has shown enough improvement in victories over Virginia (35-10), Bowling Green (52-0) and the Trojans to remain in the picture. They would have to win their final six games &#8212; starting with a trip to No. 16 Michigan after this week&#8217;s bye &#8212; and get some help.</p><p>Kelly likes how his team is going about its business.</p><p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s a mature team in the way they handle themselves,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;They know they have to do the little things the right way. Each week has required our team to find different ways to win. I like the fact that our guys, regardless of the situation, can adapt and adjust and find ways to win.&#8221;</p><p>After the Wolverines, Notre Dame finishes against Virginia Tech, Duke, Navy, Boston College and Stanford &#8212; teams that are a combined 23-12, none of them ranked. An 11-1 finish might be good enough, but the overall strength of Notre Dame&#8217;s schedule is generally middle of the pack.</p><p>For the most part, Notre Dame&#8217;s defense, under second-year coordinator Clark Lea, has performed decent enough. Led by sack-minded defensive ends Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem, aggressive linebacker Asmar Bilal and safeties Alohi Gilman and Julian Elliott, the defense is allowing just 16.8 points a game (13th nationally).</p><p>The offense is ranked 14th, putting up 39.2 points per game behind senior quarterback Ian Book. He is completing 63.2% of his passes, down slightly from last season but has twice thrown for five touchdowns in a game to an impressive receiving corps that includes wideout Chase Claypool and tight end Cole Kmet.</p><p>&#8220;Ian is making good decisions, he&#8217;s taking care of the football,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;He&#8217;s helping us win games.&#8221;</p><p>Book is quick to credit Notre Dame&#8217;s improving offensive line led by Associated Press midseason All-America guard Tommy Kraemer that opened holes against USC for a season-high 308 rushing yards. A career-high 176 came from Tony Jones Jr., who has been over the century mark against Louisville, Virginia and Bowling Green while replacing Jafar Armstrong, finally back from abdominal surgery.</p><p>&#8220;The line was phenomenal, I&#8217;m super proud of those guys,&#8221; Book said. &#8220;Tony is a great tool in our offense. If he keeps doing that, it opens up everything else in the passing game.&#8221;</p><p>The special teams have been just that, with freshman punter Jay Bramblett averaging 41.4 yards and junior Jonathan Doerer perfect on 27 PATs and six-of-seven on field goals, including 45-, 52- and 43-yarders against the Trojans.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Notre Dame offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (72) and Liam Eichenberg (74) celebrate after defeating Southern California in an NCAA football game in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_123791673-207c09b1130d40db83eaefab522b0817.jpg</photo0><caption0>Notre Dame offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (72) and Liam Eichenberg (74) celebrate after defeating Southern California in an NCAA football game in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>AP photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_123791673-6f7a61ea26194c968080f8bb4e563daa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) celebrates his 8-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_123791673-6f7a61ea26194c968080f8bb4e563daa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) celebrates his 8-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</caption1><photoCredit1>AP photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_123791673-f4c19eeb755a4d3b9a68d7c0c1af12af.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet (84) celebrates his 10-yard touchdown catch against Southern California in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_123791673-f4c19eeb755a4d3b9a68d7c0c1af12af.jpg</photo2><caption2>Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet (84) celebrates his 10-yard touchdown catch against Southern California in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</caption2><photoCredit2>AP photo </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Fineran</p><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

No. 8 Irish need to win out and have help for playoff berth