It actually is difficult to be assured in any prediction going into the annual sport towards Navy, however Notre Dame did what was principally anticipated and dominated the outmanned Middies who had been with out their beginning quarterback, Blake Horvath.
Navy took the opening kick, and despatched in backup quarterback Braxton Woodson to run the choice assault. The Irish had been as much as the duty instantly, and compelled Navy to punt after 5 performs.
Advertisement
It was Notre Dame’s offense that stepped as much as set the tone early. CJ Carr discovered Malachi Fields a number of instances, and the Irish marched it down 94 yards for a 1 yard landing run by Jeremiyah Love.
After forcing Navy to punt on their subsequent possession, the Irish offense acquired the ball again, however in what was a uncommon second for the evening — they had been pressured to punt after a 3 and out. James Rendell shanked the ball and it solely went 28 yards. Navy acquired feisty and put collectively an 8 play 53 yard drive that ended with Woodson landing run from the two yard line to tie the sport at 7.
While issues actually felt a little dicey, the Irish put collectively a 71 yard drive that ended with a brief Jadarian Price landing run to return up 14-7. While Notre Dame has actually had issues with brief yardage performs this 12 months, they did prolong that drive with a 4th and 1 go from Carr to Jordan Faison — one thing we have now been screaming for throughout the previous few weeks.
Speaking of Faison… he was subsequent in the scoring get together as he caught a 5 yard landing go to finish a 68 yard drive late in the second quarter. While Notre Dame was frothing to get one other rating earlier than halftime, it was Navy that put collectively a good drive changing somne third downs to place themselves in place to kick a discipline objective — which they did with simply seconds left in the half to make the sport going into the lockers, 21-10.
Advertisement
Notre Dame then scored touchdowns on all 4 of its third quarter possesions. The first of which, was an unimaginable 48 yard Jeremiyah Love landing run that noticed him take a seat, pop up, after which GO.
The subsequent two scores got here by way of the air by CJ Carr. One of them went to KK Smith from 34 yards out, after which an Irish tight finish (Ty Washington) caught one from 4 yards out.
After these scores, CJ Carr took a seat and Kenny Minchey got here in together with a variety of backup ability gamers. Minchey then helped drive the Irish down the sphere together with working again Aneyas Williams, and it was Williams that ended the drive with a 4th down 54 yard landing run to make the sport 49-10.
Advertisement
Notre Dame’s lone possession in the 4th quarter travelled 66 yards earlier than taking a knee contained in the redzone to finish the sport.
While Notre Dame’s offense shined all evening throughout a downpour of rain and snow, it was the Notre Dame protection that saved this sport in verify. Notre Dame was led by Jaiden Ausberry who actually had a unbelievable sport towards the Naval possibility assault.
More to return on OFD