Notre Dame bombs Navy out, 52-20

Pretty much everyone thought that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were going to have a close game against the Navy Midshipmen, but that just wasn’t the case today. Notre Dame crushed Navy 52-20 and it was a beatdown from the start.

Notre Dame scored on its first six possessions with five of those ending in the endzone for a touchdown. Four of those scores were touchdown passes from Ian Book to Chase Claypool. The Midshipmen were simply overmatched athletically, and the Irish made them pay for it through the air.

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Ian Book was impressive and finished the day 14-20 for 284 yards passing and 5 touchdowns. Book is the first Irish quarterback to ever have three 5 TD games in one season. Book’s main target was Claypool, and the Canadian Cruiser pulled in 7 passes for 117 yards and 4 touchdowns. Claypool tied Maurice Stovall for the most touchdown receptions in a game for the Irish.

Even with all of that offensive efficiency, it was the Irish defense that set it all up. Notre Dame recovered 4 fumbles on the day, with two of those forced by Khalid Kareem. Paul Moala took an option pitch away and got himself a fumble return for touchdown in the 4th quarter.

Drew White led the way defensively for Notre Dame with 10 tackles, but guys on the defensive line like Jayson Ademilola and Howard Cross III had big days too. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah finished with 1.5 sacks (the other half to Ovie Oghoufo).

It was a day that Notre Dame dominated early and put the backups in towards the end of the 3rd quarter. Don’t let that score fool you. Navy didn’t get into the endzone until 1:42 left in the third quarter to make it 45-10. The dangerous Malcolm Perry had 117 yards rushing but zero failed to score — or even threaten to score.

Put this one in the books. More to come on OFD.