Notre Dame has got this one

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Now that order has been restored to The Times rankings (yeah, whatever), I can say without reservation that Thursday’s nationally-televised game between Notre Dame and Birmingham will be for top bragging rights in the Valley. OK, Crespi is more than a little better than the boys who hail from that supposedly nonexistent community, but the game should provide the Knights with another big-league challenge following their 17-7 victory over Canyon in Week 1.

A victory over the Patriots would not only firmly establish their place among the elite in Southern California, but would also keep them in contention for a berth in the Division II state bowl game at the end of the year (hey, they could beat Mater Dei, right?).

Maybe I’m looking a little too far ahead, but I know for certain that Notre Dame won’t have much of a problem with the Patriots as long as it sticks with its strengths –- you know, the one-two punch of QB Dayne Crist and RB Thaddeus Brown topped off with a nice helping of LB Hayden Hunter’s knee-wrapping skills.

I know Birmingham has a few talented guys of their own in QB Morey Croson, RB Milton Knox and the now cleared-to-play Exavier Johnson at WR, but they’re going to have to have the best game of their lives to knock off the Knights.

Notre Dame’s defense is just too good for the Patriots to effectively exploit. Sure, they gave up almost 300 passing yards to Canyon QB Sean Gavin in the opener, but they also had four interceptions and a couple of sacks. If you couple this performance with the decent numbers Crist and Brown have put up, you can see why the Knights are still unbeaten.

Through two games, Crist has completed 26 passes for 398 yards and two TDs in addition to gobbling up 119 yards on the ground. Brown has rushed for 215 yards and three TDs. So, as long as the defense does its part and Crist and Thaddeus play like they usually do, Notre Dame won’t have anything to worry about.

What: No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 11 Birmingham
When: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Prediction: Notre Dame 21, Birmingham 10

- Austin Knoblauch