Despite Navy’s conservative triple option attack, the swirling snow flurries of early November and South Bend’s limiting possessions, Marcus Freeman’s No. 10 Irish were able to out-duel the Midshipmen and continue their push to the College Football Playoff (CFP). After a methodical opening 25 minutes from both sides, the Irish scored three touchdowns across the “middle eight” to cruise to a 49-10 rivalry victory.
After struggling a week ago in Chestnut Hill, Notre Dame’s special teams traversed the adverse conditions nicely, converting every kick and avoiding major mistakes in the punting game. The defense continued its recent resurgence, holding the Midshipmen to 206 rushing yards, below their NCAA-best 317 per game, as well as less than five yards per carry. Offensively, freshman quarterback CJ Carr was efficient, completing 13 of 16 passes through the air for 218 yards and three scores in just three quarters of work. Junior running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price paired for 141 yards on the ground and three more scores, while senior receiver Malachi Fields was the bell-cow in the passing game, hauling in four receptions for 97 yards.
Irish go 94 yards for opening drive touchdown
After a line drive 52-yard punt from Navy sophomore Jacob Carlson pinned the Irish at their own six-yard line, Notre Dame’s first two plays from scrimmage were inside handoffs for exactly no yardage. The Midshipmen then brought heavy pressure on third and long, but Carr had just enough time to hit Love on an intermediate Texas route to extend the drive.
After gaining 27 on the improvisational dump off to Love, Carr displayed his innate arm talent on the very next play, hitting Fields in stride for a 52-yard pickup. Love would take care of the rest, capping off the opening series with a score from one yard out. After all the midweek discussions swirling around Notre Dame’s kicking game, freshman Erik Schmidt booted the PAT through with ease, and the Irish led 7-0.
Notre Dame converts on key fourth and one
After Navy capitalized on favorable field position thanks to a poor punt from Notre Dame senior James Rendell to knot the score at seven, the Irish quickly worked their way back inside Midshipmen territory. Fields made three acrobatic catches along the sideline during the drive, but after Price was stuffed in short yardage at the Navy 11, Freeman had a fourth down decision to ponder. As he has seemingly all year, the boss left his offense on the field to extend the possession. Carr found junior receiver Jordan Faison inside the five, before Price found pay-dirt on the next play to put the Irish back on top.
Irish win the middle eight
Sophomore linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa continued his recent tear on the next Navy series, breaking through the Midshipmen interior to collect a tackle for loss. After Chris Ash’s defense forced a three and out, Carr led the Irish offense 68 yards in just under three minutes to double the lead. The signal caller hit senior receiver Will Pauling for 27 on 3rd & 8 at the cusp of field goal range, before connecting with Faison for his first passing touchdown of the evening.
Stepping in at quarterback for talented senior Blake Horvath, who was scratched late with an injury, junior Braxton Woodson put together a nice drive for the Midshipmen to salvage points prior to the intermission. Woodson, who has now started one game in each of his three collegiate seasons, picked up 41 yards with his own feet, before converting a critical third down toss to senior flanker Eli Heidenreich. Senior kicker Nathan Kirkwood calmly slotted through a 34-yard field goal, making the halftime score 21-10.
Navy elected to take the ball after winning the coin toss, meaning Notre Dame would open the second half on offense. The Irish quickly found themselves in yet another third and long, but Carr once again dissected soft coverage and hit Faison to pick up the yardage. Love then ripped off another highlight reel touchdown run, breaking three would-be tacklers en route to a 48 yard score. He was seemingly brought down after gaining only four, but Love surfed along the defender’s back, somehow avoiding the ground, before popping up and sprinting to the endzone.
On the ensuing Navy possession, the Midshipmen tried to push the envelope on fourth and two from their own 33, but the Irish front stuffed the dive attempt. Notre Dame’s offense swiftly took advantage of the turnover, as Carr’s play-action fake allowed sophomore wideout KK Smith to sneak behind the defense for a perfectly executed score. In the matter of eight minutes, the Irish lead bloated from seven to 25.
Second unit adds on
Sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey, who narrowly lost the heavily publicized position battle this offseason, replaced Carr late in the third quarter. He guided the Irish down the field for their fourth consecutive touchdown drive, punctuated by a 54-yard scurry by sophomore rusher Aneyas Williams.
Rotating in ancillary pieces defensively as well, the Irish held the Midshipmen scoreless in the second half, only allowing 50 total yards. All told, it was an impressive showing from all three of Freeman’s units, with the Irish prevailing 49-10 to defeat Navy for a seventh consecutive time.
