Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 23, 2019 19 BY LOU SOMOGYI L as Vegas-based point spreads are usually pretty darn accurate, all things considered. However, there are always going to be outlier games in given weeks. Notre Dame had one at Michigan Oct. 26 in a 45-14 defeat, and then No. 21 Navy had it at No. 16 Notre Dame Nov. 16. Favored by only 7.5 points, the Irish (8-2) built a 38-0 cushion in the first half before cruising to a 52-20 demo- lition of the Midshipmen (7-2), who entered the game leading the nation in rushing with a 357.9 average. Navy's first five possessions re- sulted in three lost fumbles (recov- ered by fifth-year senior linebacker Asmar Bilal, junior linebacker Drew White and senior drop end Jamir Jones), a failed fourth-and-one at its 44-yard line on a tackle for loss by freshman safety Kyle Hamilton when quarterback Malcolm Perry tried to cut it wide, and a three-and-out. On offense, senior quarterback Ian Book found senior wideout Chase Claypool on seven-, 47- and three- yard scoring passes, and also aired it out with a 70-yard fling to sopho- more speedster Braden Lenzy in the first 19:33 of the contest for a quick 28-0 advantage. Claypool (seven catches for 117 yards) later notched a school single-game record-tying fourth touchdown reception. In his seven series before getting taken out on the second possession of the second half, Book led seven scoring drives (six touchdowns and a field goal), completing 14 of 20 passes for 284 yards with five scores, and paced the team in rushing (31 yards) a third straight week. "They've found out how to avoid listening to all the expectations and the noise, and just play football," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly summarized afterwards. "They play fast, free. I could tell in pre-game that Navy was in trouble. … That's just the maturation of a group of guys that needed to figure out how to go from preparation phase to playing phase. "They learned that at Michigan. They learned that it's not just about preparation. You can work as hard as you want, but you have to flip the switch. They didn't at Michigan … since that time, they've learned how to do it. They're going to be tough to beat down the stretch." FIRST QUARTER: NOTRE DAME, 14-0 Top Moment: Following the open- ing kickoff, Notre Dame drove 75 yards in 11 plays and took 5:21 off the clock, capped with a seven-yard toss from Book to Claypool on a crossing route. The Irish faced third-and-16 at the Navy 38-yard line, but a 15-yard scramble by Book and a two-yard run by senior running back Tony Jones Jr. on fourth-and-one kept the march alive. Claypool also caught a 23-yard pass on the second play. Feature Performer: After a fumble recovery by Notre Dame on Navy's first series, the Irish were in the end zone two plays later when the Book- to-Claypool combination connected on a 47-yard touchdown on the post route for a 14-0 advantage and 3:11 still remaining in the first quarter. For Navy, 11 of its 17 plays, all on the ground, were runs by quarter- back Malcolm Perry for 54 yards. Stats: Notre Dame totaled 138 yards on its two series, 91 passing and 47 rushing, while all 71 Navy yards came via the rush. Items: After the Irish took a 7-0 lead, Navy's opening drive took 11 plays and converted a fourth-and-three to Notre Dame's 24-yard line, but on the next play senior defensive end Kha- lid Kareem stripped the football from Perry that was recovered by Bilal at the 3:34 mark at Notre Dame's 27-yard line. SECOND QUARTER: NOTRE DAME, 38-3 Top Moment: On Navy's second possession, Kareem forced his sec- ond fumble on Perry, this one on third-and-13, that Jamir Jones recov- ered at the Navy 39-yard line. Four plays later, Claypool snared his third touchdown grab on a three-yard toss from Book to build the cushion to 21-0 with 12:32 left until halftime. Feature Performer: Following a 70- yard touchdown toss to sophomore wide receiver Braden Lenzy with 10:27 left in the first half to make it 28-0, Book's stat line read 8 of 9 for 193 yards with four touchdowns. Stats: The Irish practically doubled Navy in total yardage in the first half 300-151. Book connected on 11 of 14 throws for 209 yards, and the 18 Irish rushing attempts netted 91 yards. Items: Trailing 28-0, Navy went for it on fourth-and-one from its 44-yard line, but when Perry tried to take it outside he was thrown for a one-yard loss by Hamilton with 8:08 left … This resulted in setting up a 32-yard field goal by junior Jonathan Doerer to ex- tend the advantage to 31-0 at 4:45 … Navy's third lost fumble of the half on a bad exchange between Perry and fullback Jamale Carothers was recov- ered by White at the Navy 24-yard line … Eight plays later, Tony Jones Jr. tallied on a two-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left to make it 38-0 … A 46- yard run by Perry set up kicker Bijan Nichols' 27-yard field goal to finally put Navy on the scoreboard. THIRD QUARTER: NOTRE DAME, 45-10 Top Moment: After forcing Navy to punt to open the second half, the Irish marched 78 yards in seven plays, concluding with a 20-yard scoring pass from Book to Claypool on third- and-10. On the drive's third play, Book extended the play with a scramble on the run before finding sophomore wide receiver Lawrence Keys III with a superb 27-yard strike along the side- line to the Navy 48. Book followed with a 28-yard toss to fifth-year senior wideout Chris Finke on a corner route. SHIPSHAPE PERFORMANCE Notre Dame asserts early supremacy in 52-20 victory versus Navy Navy had no answers for senior wide receiver Chase Claypool. He tied a Notre Dame single-game record with four touchdown receptions (including the first three scores) and finished with seven catches for 117 yards. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS