Not today Middies
There was actually some doubt from the experts coming into today’s game between the Navy Midshipmen and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Navy was 6-0 and looked pretty explosive with their new “Sling T” offense.
And then the game turned into a slow rolling blowout as the Middies turned the ball over six times on the day, as the Irish went on to win 51-14.
Notre Dame took the opening drive 75 yards on 9 plays and scored on a short Riley Leonard touchdown run to make it 7-0. Leonard was 4-4 during the drive and looked remarkably improved as a passer.
On Navy’s first drive, Adon Shuler picked up a botched pitch by Blake Horvath and rumbled down inside the ten yard line. Three plays later, Leonard found a wide open Kris Mitchell in the end zone to go up 14-0.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Middies fumbled it again on the next possession, but the Irish failed to convert any points as Zac Yakam missed a field goal. Navy got a 47 yard touchdown run from Horvath to make it 14-7 — and an interesting game. Notre Dame answered quickly as Jeremiyah Love took one to the house from 64 yards out on the next drive to make it 21-7, Irish. Love scored on a 2 yard run a few drives later to extend the lead to 28-7.
Notre Dame would go into the half up 31-7, but Navy came out of the half fired up and ready to try and make this a game. The Middies scored on a 4th and goal run play from the one after getting set up again by a long Horvath run.
Notre Dame put any hope Navy had to bed with a 7 play 75 yard drive which ended with a gorgeous 37 yard TD pass from Leonard to Beaux Collins. Navy muffed the kick return and with the shadow of the goaline behind them, Horvath fumbled the ball into the end zone and Jaylen Sneed fell on top of it for a score to make it 44-14.
Navy threatened to score just once more, but Leonard Moore picked the ball off in the end zone for an interception. With the backups in on offense, freshman running back Kedron Young punched it in for a touchdown to make the tally, 51-14.
This is Notre Dame’s third Top 25 win on the season, and it was emphatic.
More to come on OFD.
