After the game, senior quarterback Tommy Rees said he wasn't sure if junior tight end Troy Niklas had made the catch that eventually resulted in a 66-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half. But he said he felt pretty good about it.
"He's huge, so that helps," Rees said when asked about how good of a target Niklas is. "I couldn't see, to be honest. But once I saw big Troy running down, he's kind of hard to bring down."
The touchdown was the second of Niklas' career as well as the longest reception of his career. The score put the Irish ahead, 21-6, going into halftime.
Tuitt notches sack
Junior defensive end StephonTuitt entered the 2013 campaign 19 pounds heavier than he was last year after offseason surgery to repair a hernia. Tuitt still managed to lead the Irish defensive line in pressuring Temple junior quarterback Connor Reilly throughout the game, Tuitt had two solo tackles and assisted on another.
He also sacked Reilly for a 4-yard loss in the second quarter with the Owls knocking on the door of the redzone. It was Tuitt's15th career sack, which puts him 10th on the list of Notre Dame players since the stat was first recorded in 1982. Tuitt also opened last year by getting to the quarterback, recording two sacks in Notre Dame's 50-10 victory over Navy.
Contact Vicky Jacobsen at vjacobse@nd.edu
