IRISH INSIDER THE
observer
Monday, November September 9, 19,2009 2005
Michigan State Navy44 23,, Notre Dame 21 41
Home invasion Navy edges Irish for second straight win in Notre Dame Stadium By MEAGHAN VESELIK Sports Writer
Jimmy Clausen set careerhighs in pass attempts (51), completions (37) and passing yards (452), and a new school record of completions, Golden Tate made nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown and Michael Floyd returned to the field for Notre Dame. The numbers appear to be from a Notre Dame rout, but the Irish were unable to come back against Navy Saturday, falling 23-21. Notre Dame was in contention for a BCS berth heading into Saturday’s match-up, but Navy’s victory effectively ended that hope. The Irish also fell to 6-3 as the Midshipmen moved to 7-3. “I think it came down to red-zone production for us,” Irish coach Charlie Weis said Saturday afternoon, and he was right. Notre Dame scored on only two of their six chances in the red zone. As in the Irish style this season, Notre Dame worked on making a comeback with less than a minute left. After the Irish recovered an onside kick, Clausen found Tate for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make the score 23-21 with 24 seconds left in the game. The VANESSA GEMPIS/The Observer f o l l o w i n g o n s i d e k i c k w e n t Irish sophomore wide receiver Michael Floyd reaches for the ball in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s 23-21 loss to Navy out of bounds, however, and Saturday. The upset loss to the Midshipmen at home was the second in a row for the Irish. Navy left South Bend with their second straight win at rank as the fourth highest in S t a t e o n S e p t . 1 9 , h a d 1 0 behind 7-0. The Midshipmen 12-yard touchdown pass with a single game in Notre Dame receptions for 141 yards and b e g a n t h e s e c o n d q u a r t e r 4:46 left to make it 21-14. Notre Dame Stadium. N a v y q u a r t e r b a c k R i c k y history and are the most by a touchdown, tying his career with another touchdown on A f t e r a k e y d e f e n s i v e s t o p Murray’s 25-yard run to make that forced a Navy punt, the D o b b s p a s s e d f o r 5 6 y a r d s an Irish signal caller since high in receptions. Irish started a new drive at Leading the Irish defense it 14-0 at halftime. a n d r u s h e d f o r 1 0 2 i n t h e Brady Quinn threw for 467 The Irish finally got on the their own 13-yard line with Saturday was Brian Smith g a m e , s e c o n d t o f u l l b a c k against BYU in 2005. A s g o o d a s t h e C l a u s e n - with 10 tackles, followed by board with 5:03 left in the time running out. Their sucVi n c e M u r r a y ’s 1 5 8 . G o i n g i n t o t h e g a m e , We i s k n e w o r c h e s t r a t e d o f f e n s e w a s , S e r g i o B r o w n a n d K y l e t h i r d q u a r t e r a f t e r j u n i o r cess was cut short, however, h a l f b a c k when Navy sacked Clausen N a v y ’ s McCarthy with Murray would be Robert Hughes twice, the second time for a t r i p l e - nine and Ian a threat. m a d e i t o v e r safety with a minute left in o p t i o n Williams with “ We l l , I t h i n k t h e g o a l l i n e the game. o f f e n s e eight. the first thing you “[Murray] had too “You can’t be worrying f o r a t o u c h We i s f e l t a l o n g t h e s a m e Notre Dame ruled the have to do is stop many yards, some of about two or three d o w n . lines as his players in terms could not cross field. the fullback,” them easy yards, and However, Navy of correcting mistakes and “ T h e i r the 50-yard Weis said. “That’s games down the line.” r e s p o n d e d looking ahead. Not only is he offense did line on its first where the whole he had a couple of big w i t h o n e o f p r e p a r e d t o f i x h i s t e a m ’s great today p o s s e s s i o n defense starts, runs.” Charlie Weis their o w n mistakes from Saturday, but and execut- w h e n s e n i o r with stopping the Irish head coach w h e n D o b b s Weis is also ready to look to ed t h e i r wide receiver fullback. He had Charlie Weis t h r e w a 5 2 - next week. game plan,” R o b b y P a r r i s too many yards, “Right now that’s the only yard pass to a C l a u s e n fumbled some of them Irish head coach junior wide thing you are chasing,” he said. “I give reception that easy yards, and receiver Greg said. “You can’t be worrying a lot o f was recovered he had a couple credit t o by Navy. From there, Dobbs Jones to increase their lead to a b o u t t w o o r t h r e e g a m e s of big runs.” down the line, you’ve got to W h e r e N o t r e D a m e d i d their coach, their defense and m a r c h e d t h e M i d s h i p m e n 21-7. Sophomore c o r n e r b a c k worry about Pittsburgh at 8 down the field to score and outdo Navy was in game stats, all their players.” R o b e r t B l a n t o n a p p a r e n t l y Saturday night.” Ta t e a l s o p u t u p s t r o n g Navy led 7-0. including going the entire Ranked Notre Dame teams D e s p i t e m o v i n g t h e b a l l thought Jones was an ineligile numbers in the game, most game without once punting. On top of Clausen’s impres- coming out of the second half w e l l , N o t r e D a m e f a i l e d t o r e c e i v e r, a n d a s a r e s u l t had defeated unranked Navy sive career highs in attempts, where he had eight catches s c o r e i n t h e f i r s t h a l f . Jones was wide open on the t e a m s 4 1 s t r a i g h t t i m e s , a streak dating back to 1936. Freshman kicker Nick Tausch play. c o m p l e t i o n s a n d p a s s i n g and 127 of his 132 yards. The Irish finally started to Michael Floyd, playing in attempted a field goal from yards, he had one interception and threw for two touch- his first game since breaking the Navy 24 and missed wide r a c k u p p o i n t s l a t e i n t h e Contact Meaghan Veselik at downs. His 452 passing yards his clavicle against Michigan left, leaving Notre Dame still fourth quarter. Floyd caught a mvesel01@saintmarys.edu
player of the game
stat of the game
play of the game
quote of the game
Vince Murray Navy fullback
2 of 6
Craig Schaefer’s sack of Jimmy Clausen in the end zone
“People make mistakes. I mean, this game was a mistake.”
The safety put Navy ahead 23-14 with 1:00 left and ended any serious hope on a Notre Dame comeback.
Ian Williams Irish defensive tackle
Murray gashed the Irish defense for 158 yards and a touchdown, averaging 11.3 yards per carry.
The number of red zone opportunites the Notre Dame offense scored on thanks to turnovers and failed conversions.