WobLog

Sarah and I spent much of Saturday afternoon watching Notre Dame host UCLA. The Irish played competively all day, but UCLA just seemed a little sharper. Well, with 2:25 left in the fourth quarter, ND quarterback Brady Quinn failed to convert on a 4th and 1yd play. Since we had to go out for dinner Saturday night, I shut off the game in disappointment, figuring the Bruins had it wrapped up.

Here's what happened:

October 23, 2006 4:56 a.m. EST

Todd Sikorski - All Headline News Staff Writer

South Bend, IN (AHN) - Notre Dame needed all the help from "Touchdown Jesus" on Saturday to beat UCLA in South Bend. There is no other way to explain the way Notre Dame won-on a last minute 45 yard bomb from QB Brady Quinn to Jeff Samardzjia. The 20-17 win left Notre Dame with a record of 6-1 and still alive to be eligible for the Bowl Championship Series.

It was not only that last second pass that makes one figure "Touchdown Jesus"-a famous mural of Jesus overlooking Notre Dame Stadium with his hands up in the air-had something to do with the win.

It looked like UCLA won the game late in the fourth quarter when it stopped Brady Quinn on a fourth-and-1 play from the Notre Dame 35. With only 2:25 left in the game, it seemed like the Irish would fall to their second loss of the season.

However, thanks to a stingy Irish defense and the wise use of two timeouts, Notre Dame got the ball back with a little more than a minute left in the game.

Quinn then went to work and hit Samarzjia with a 21-yard pass and then hit David Grimes with a 14-yard pass. After that came that winning bomb to Samardzjia.

For those who are unfamiliar, "Touchdown Jesus" refers to the "Word of Life" mural on the Hesburgh Library at Notre Dame, which can be seen from Notre Dame stadium.

I've been kicking myself ever since we got back from dinner late Saturday. I've learned my lesson, I promise...