East Rutherford, N.J. — In front of a crowd of 76,112 fans at MetLife Stadium, No. 12 ranked Notre Dame (7-1) cruised to a 51-14 victory over Navy (6-1) on Saturday afternoon, capitalizing on six turnovers to stay in control from start to finish.
The Fighting Irish wasted no time asserting themselves, racing out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter, setting the tone for a dominant performance on both sides of the ball. Notre Dame’s offense was balanced and efficient, racking up 466 total yards, with 265 coming on the ground.
Senior quarterback Riley Leonard was the steady leader for the Irish, going 13-for-21 through the air for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jeremiyah Love also had an impressive outing, rushing 12 times for 102 yards, gashing the Navy defense with key runs throughout the game.
“When you look at almost every single turnover or fumble, it was something we did,” Blake Horvath said. “They almost didn’t touch the ball. That is the most frustrating piece from our point. We wanted it really bad and we bit ourselves.”
Defensively, Notre Dame’s relentless pressure gave Navy quarterback Blake Horvath a tough afternoon. Although Horvath found success on the ground with 129 rushing yards on 14 carries, he struggled to find time in the pocket. Navy’s offense was disrupted repeatedly by the Irish pass rush, leading to costly mistakes. The Midshipmen’s six turnovers proved too much to overcome.
Notre Dame held a commanding 31-7 lead at halftime and never looked back, maintaining complete control in the second half. Despite a few sparks from Horvath’s runs, Navy couldn’t mount a meaningful comeback.
With the win, Notre Dame demonstrated their ability to execute in all phases of the game, keeping their season’s momentum rolling while exposing key weaknesses in Navy’s ball security.
“That was a point of emphasis. This team is No. 2 in the country in turnover margin,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the Irish beat Navy for the seventh straight time. “To be plus-6 in turnovers is a straight reflection of complimentary football.”
Poll implications
Notre Dame played well except for a couple of long runs by Horvath. It would not be a surprise if they moved up. Navy played its worst game in years and it probably will knock them out of the poll.
Up Next:
Notre Dame: has a bye and returns Nov. 9 at home against Florida State.
Navy: at Rice on Saturday.