Wood, Atkinson, defense spur Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- No surprises this time for Notre Dame. Just a victory that kept them out of an 0-3 hole and showed they can finish a game when they have a lead.

The Irish used two touchdown runs from Cierre Wood, an electrifying 89-yard kickoff return from freshman George Atkinson III and a key late interception by Robert Blanton to beat No. 15 Michigan State, 31-13, yesterday for their first win.

"We wake up every morning and prepare to win," said Blanton, part of an Irish defense that limited the Spartans to 29 rushing yards and only a field goal in the second half. "We just had to show we could go out and get the job done."

The Irish also showed they can stop a fake field goal. The Spartans (2-1) stunned Notre Dame in overtime a year ago with a winning TD pass off a fake field goal and tried to surprise the Irish again after lining up for a field goal near the end of the first half.

Notre Dame (1-2) was ready this time. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Ethan Johnson broke up a shovel pass and the Irish led 21-10 at the half.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio took the blame for the play failing.

"Field goal at the end of the half, my call, didn't work. Three points. But I don't think that's why we lost the game," Dantonio said. "But I'll take the blame for that."

Michigan State's Kirk Cousins, who had 11 straight completions at one juncture of the second half, was 34-for-53 for 329 yards but he was intercepted at the Notre Dame 6 with a little less than four minutes left by Blanton, who returned it 82 yards to the 12.

The Spartans had just recovered a fumbled punt by Notre Dame's John Goodman at the Irish 21.

Michigan State was hurt by 12 penalties for 86 yards.

Notre Dame was coming off a crushing loss at Michigan, giving up 28 fourth-quarter points and a winning TD pass with two seconds to go. -- AP