Fertig never saw big play

Do the math.

Any rivalry that spans nine decades, 22 national championships and 14 Heisman Trophy winners is bound to include a few big plays.

USC versus Notre Dame has produced dazzling runs and deep passes and second-half comebacks.

“It has do to with all the great players on both sides,” said Ricky Watters, the former Notre Dame running back. “So many great names.”

USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett joined the list by catching a fourth-down pass from Matt Leinart last fall, a play fresh in the memories of both teams heading into today’s annual game.

But Jarrett’s catch wasn’t the first time USC struck on fourth down in this rivalry.

In 1964, Notre Dame arrived at the Coliseum undefeated and featuring quarterback John Huarte, who had won the Heisman a few days earlier.

The Irish jumped to a 17-0 lead before the momentum shifted. USC scrambled back in the second half, closing the gap to four points, then drove to within 15 yards of the end zone in the final two minutes.

On fourth down, quarterback Craig Fertig recalled “looking to the sideline for a little help. Coach sends in this sophomore, Rod Sherman.”

Watching from the sideline, Sherman had spotted a gap in the middle of the Irish secondary. Fertig called the play: 84 Z Delay.

Tailback Mike Garrett went in motion, drawing the strong safety and a linebacker toward the sideline. Fertig took the snap and fired to a point where Sherman was sprinting on a slant route.

“Just as I let it go, Alan Page hits me square in the face,” the quarterback said.

Flat on his back, the Notre Dame defensive lineman on top of him, Fertig heard the crowd erupt. He wanted to sit up to see what happened, but Page wasn’t moving.

“Get up, get up,” an official barked at Page.

“I can’t,” Page said. “We’re stuck.”

Their face masks had locked together and remained that way until someone helped them untangle. Fertig never saw Sherman catch the pass that won the game, 20-17.

The former quarterback was reminded of that afternoon when Leinart threw to Jarrett last fall at Notre Dame Stadium, completing a 61-yard pass to set up USC’s last-second 34-31 victory.

“It’s like two heavyweight fighters,” Fertig said of the rivalry. “You might knock me out this year, but I’ll be back next year.”

Other big plays in USC-Notre Dame history:

1931: Johnny Baker kicked a 33-yard field goal in the last minute to end Notre Dame’s 26-game unbeaten streak and give USC a 16-14 victory, its first at South Bend, Ind.

1973: Eric Penick’s 85-yard touchdown run sparked a 23-14 Notre Dame win, ending USC’s 23-game unbeaten streak and lifting the Irish to a national title.

1978: Frank Jordan kicked a field goal with :02 on the clock to beat Notre Dame, 27-25, and send USC to a national championship.

1986: Tim Brown capped a second-half rally by returning a punt 56 yards to set up John Carney’s field goal as time expired. The Irish won, 38-37.

1999: On the 25th anniversary of USC’s 55-24 comeback victory, Notre Dame tight end Jabari Holloway dived on a loose ball in the end zone to give the Irish a 25-24 victory in the final three minutes.

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david.wharton@latimes.com