Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Jaylon Smith to hustle from the scrum in the middle of the field to the edge to record the game-clinching tackle. "I really just did my job," Smith said. "The play initially went away, and I had to stay back and really just look for a bootleg, cutback or reverse. Luckily, Eilar was there to slow the guy down initially and then I made the play. "I didn't know it was coming away, but I knew my job was that. As soon as I saw the pitch, I put my hand in the ground and redirected … and I was fortunate enough to make the play." Hardy and Smith would not have had that opportunity if not for Folston's performance on the go-ahead drive. His number was called eight times in 11 plays and the freshman leaped over the Midshipmen front from one yard out to put Notre Dame up, 38-34, with 3:47 remaining. "This is a big confidence builder," Folston said. "Rushing for 140 and the first touchdown of the year is a confidence builder. It's welcome to college football as a running back, and that game really boosted my confidence a lot. "It's been a process. The coaches have been working with me, the running backs have been working with me, the O-line and me. I've been very focused and doing everything at 100 percent." Earlier in the drive, Notre Dame faced a third-and-eight from the Midshipmen 48-yard line when senior quarterback Tommy Rees connected with junior tight end Troy Niklas across the middle for 28 yards. "We had a good matchup," Rees said. "It was a two-high look, and we were able to take advantage of his mismatch, the way he presents with his size. I just put the ball up for him, and he usually makes a play for us." Trailing 20-17 at halftime, Notre Dame scored on each of its three second-half possessions in a game in which it did not punt. After junior running back Cam McDaniel's four-yard scamper put Notre Dame ahead 31-27 with 12:51 remaining, Navy responded as it did all afternoon with a seven-play, 70-yard march that left the game hanging in the balance until Folston delivered the final punch. In the first half, two interceptions thrown by Rees slowed an Irish offense that displayed no difficulty moving the ball up and down the field. On the first, Rees fired downfield for senior wide receiver TJ Jones, but Jones slipped on Notre Dame Stadium's wet sod. The ball flew past Jones and into the arms of junior safety Parrish Gaines. Jones, however, notched a touchdown reception on the next drive for the sixth consecutive game. All four of Jones' catches — he finished with 111 yards — came in the first half. Although Folston's 140 yards led the Irish, junior George Atkinson III and McDaniel combined for 126 yards and two touchdowns to add to a strong rushing attack. The trio helped produce a season-high 264 rushing yards for the Irish. Folston contributed 47 yards the week before at Air Force, but he emerged as the lead back in a dominant second-half performance. "There was only one [Folston] run that I did not like, where he did not go north and south, bounced one out on the left side, and got the first down," Kelly said. "We want to keep it going