Print Edition of Irish Insider: Navy

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INSidER

The observer | friday, November 15, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

DIANE PARK | The Observer

By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS Managing Editor

It’s one of the more unique rivalries in college football.

Third-longest uninterrupted matchup in college football, the longest consecutive win streak over the same opponent and a number of marquee locations, Notre Dame-Nav y has certain quality that differentiates it from other rivalries: respect.

Perhaps no one knows this quality better than Irish senior safety and captain Alohi Gilman, who’s lived it from both sides of the field.

“W hen I was at Nav y playing against Notre Dame, obviously we had a huge respect for Notre Dame and now being at Notre Dame playing against Nav y, I have huge respect for the guys there,” Gilman said. “Some of my best friends play on the team right now.”

Gilman’s path to Notre Dame has been anything but ordinar y. Originally from Laie, Hawaii, Gilman spent his first year out of high school at the Naval Academy Prep School. Following a year there, he officially enrolled in Naval Academy, playing one season with the Midshipmen and helping

lead them to a 9-5 record, including a one-point victory over the Irish. Having expired one year of eligibility Gilman then transferred to Notre Dame, forcing him to sit out the 2017 season. W hile Gilman seriously considered joining the Irish on the other side of another historic rivalry — USC — he said ultimately Notre Dame checked all the boxes he was looking for in a school.

“Football checked out, checked the boxes, academically they are great. The networking was great, you know, all those areas that you kind of look at,” Gilman said. “But overall, I just felt really comfortable here. I felt like this was a unique place, fit my personality. And I just fell in love with the culture here and that tradition, coming from a program like Nav y that already had some of that culture and tradition. So this was something that I was obviously attracted to.”

After sitting out the 2017 season, Gilman took college football by storm, starting all 13 games, recording five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and setting a program bowl game record for tackles with 19 against Clemson. Although

he often made it look easy, Gilman said that journey came with a lot of challenges and growth along the way.

“It’s been a big, big learning experience for me,” he said. “Coming from a transfer player to now being a captain of the team, and a lot of ups and downs but it’s definitely made me to the person I am today. Just working through different situations, figure out how to be the best player, best teammate I can be.”

Despite being in only his second year in the Irish uniform, Gilman has distinguished himself as a vocal leader for the program on and off the field, often rallying the defense in important moments. In many ways, his development as a leader ultimately led to him being named one of seven captains can be attributed to his time spent at the Academy.

“Nav y’s a very unique place, it forces you to grow up really fast,” he said. “Challenges you mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically obviously. So just a place where it really challenged me and a place that forced me to grow up and learn how to be a leader, learn how to be also be a follower, learn how to take orders and be disciplined

and organized. Those things were definitely huge to the person I am today.”

Those leaderships skills continue to evolve, even throughout this past season.

“This season has been an interesting one, just a different, different dynamic for me,” Gilman said. “Obviously, being an older guy now being a senior, someone where the younger guys look up to definitely gave me a better perspective on how to be the someone that someone can lean on, how to communicate better with people, and just being yourself, being genuine and being a guy who people can talk to you.”

Gilman’s future still has a few question marks ahead.

He still has one year of eligibility remaining but would be returning for a sixth year of school since graduating high school. W hile he might toy around with entering the NFL draft or moving on after graduation, his focus right now is on the next three games.

“Personal goal [would] be three wins. I think that’ll be something that’ll be real nice,” Gilman said. “I’m just looking forward to enjoying every moment, honestly just enjoying the moments here

on the field of my guys. I’m really excited for this game this weekend.”

That ability to stay in the moment and soak it all in continues on Saturday, when Gilman will take the field with friends on both sides of the ball.

“I think [I’m] just excited.

Excited to play against my guys at Nav y,” he said. “Those are some of my best friends.

Guys who [we] went through some challenges, some adversity together. So that’s a touchy one for me because … those guys helped me get through my trials there so although it’s going to be a bittersweet thing, it’s fun and I’m excited to play against them again.”

However, once the f lyover commences and Gilman marches toward center field with the capital “C” stitched to his number 11 jersey, there’s no question where his loyalties lie.

“Respect is a huge thing and but at the same time, when we take the field, when the ball tees up, you know, you’re tr ying to win and knock each other’s heads off,” he said.

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

insider

ndsmcobserver.com | friday, November 15, 2019 | The Observer

Historied rivals square off

By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor

Every Notre Dame football season features a few matchups between the Irish and their rivals.

Whenever those games rear their heads, it brings to mind memories of games and seasons gone by.

Whenever the Irish gear up for archrival USC, the older generation may remember when the Trojans spoiled Notre Dame’s title hopes in 1964 by overcoming a 17-0 halftime deficit to win 20-17, or in 1970 when they beat the championship-hopeful Irish 38-28 despite a reigning school-record 526 passing yards from Joe Theismann.

As Notre Dame prepares to face Stanford, fans can conjure memories of late-season collapses by the Irish in 2015 and 2017 or the controversies surrounding the Stanford Band when they played at IrishCardinal games in 1991 and 1997.

And, of course, against Michigan, fans remember Raghib “Rocket” Ismail returning two punts for touchdowns, Desmond Howard’s crazy fourth-down touchdown catch in 1991 or the recent beatdowns of each other in 2014 and 2019.

However, the one that often gets lost in the shuffle, despite the angst it brings to many Irish fans when they see it on the schedule, is Navy — the team Notre Dame won 43-straight games against from 1964 to 2006 (an NCAA record for consecutive wins over a single team). Many know at least the basics of how the annual series was formed: Naval cadets were sent to Notre Dame’s campus during World War II in order to keep the University afloat as students left to help the war effort. Many may not know, however, that in the midst of the Vietnam War, several institutions abolished their ROTC programs, but Notre Dame didn’t because of what Navy had done for them.

“We said they’re going to stay on campus,” former Notre Dame President Father Ted Hesburgh said. “This is their home, too.

They’re here, and they’re welcome and they’re going to stay here.”

On that note, anyone who thinks Notre Dame should cancel the Navy series because of how overmatched the Midshipmen are should chill out. First, they’re not as overmatched as the 76-13-1 series record may suggest (as will be addressed below). Second, I’m from Kentucky, so I’ve rooted for a team that lost 31-straight years to Florida. No one talked about dropping UK from the Gators’ schedule.

Playing Navy is a tradition, and I’m not saying all traditions need to remain constant, but this one should.

Still, the majority of people who are against the series probably subscribe to the belief that it’s a constant threat to Notre Dame as a trap game. At this point, Navy is not a trap game. EVERYONE knows how big of a pain in the rear it is to play against the triple option when it’s executed perfectly like it is at Navy. Even so, Navy has never spoiled Notre Dame’s season like USC has. There have been some close calls, but for the most part, the Irish take care of business, even if Navy has achieved four of their 13 series wins in the last 12 seasons. Plus, whining and complaining about this game being a threat to the Irish is such a soft mentality. Don’t make excuses; the Irish SHOULD beat Navy, so let them go out there and prove themselves.

My final argument for why we should keep Navy on the schedule is moralistic: It’s simply the right thing to do. I don’t deign to disrespect Navy by saying we’re doing them a favor by continuing to play them. In fact, regardless of how they perform or the final result, this game has very few implications for either team in terms of recruiting and, admittedly, rankings

(although, this is an under-theradar top-25 matchup), and it’s not because it’s between two nobodies.

Notre Dame arguably has the most storied tradition in college football and Navy is highly respected, as they should be, for the job they do educating and training our future servicemen and servicewomen. It’s the most unique intersectional game because of how different it is from any other rivalry.

To quote Sommy Martinez of Slap the Sign, “It’s a game rich in tradition, one of the very few where the ‘rivalry’ is actually mutual respect, admiration and appreciation.”

Attending a Notre Dame-Navy game, while not the most entertaining to watch, is an incredible experience to be a part of, especially for the men and women of the armed forces who get to attend Navy’s “home games” around the country near various naval bases. No Notre Dame or Navy fans should be deprived of that opportunity.

In conclusion, if you’re that worried about Notre Dame dropping a game to Navy and losing ground either in the national rankings or the court of public opinion, you need to get over yourself. If Notre Dame is what they claim to be, they’ll take care of business against Navy. Anybody who thinks losing to Navy sets the program back is incredibly misinformed, whereas the more knowledgeable sports minds know that beating the triple option consistently is an impressive feat.

When these teams play, there is a sense of recognition for the accomplishments of each program and the esteem they hold one another in. The revelry is an experience that can’t be missed. So get comfortable Irish fans, because the Midshipmen don’t seem to be going anywhere, and that’s the way it should be.

Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu

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Ogundeji steps up as next man

By JACK CONCANNON Sports Writer

Injuries happen in the game of football.

It is so ingrained in the game that it cannot be used as a crutch or an excuse. The next man up steps in for as long as he needs, and the team requires the same level of production to keep going.

Senior Adetokunbo Ogundeji was playing rotationally as a defensive end early in the season.

He was making the most of his time, but his role was greatly expanded when the team lost defensive lineman junior Daelin Hayes for the season against Virginia, and it is now poised to expand even further as lineman senior Julian Okwara will be lost for the season as well.

As the depth chart stands, senior defensive linemen Ogundeji, Khalid Kareem and Jamir Jones will split the workload between the two defensive end spots, with no other experienced players on the roster. Ogundeji is ready for the increase in responsibility, and is confident in his performance so far.

“I feel like I’ve done a great job stepping in for [Daelin Hayes],” Ogundeji said. “I feel like I’m being the leader I can be. These few weeks I’m focused on playing the best football I can possibly play.

When it comes to being on the field and doing anything I can do to do my job and do it at a high ability, I try to just do that and focus on the good things.”

As this season winds down, part of Ogundeji’s responsibilities is showing younger defensive ends like sophomores Jayson Ademiola and Ovie Oghoufo how to approach their work. They will need to learn quickly, as they will likely see time on the field this

weekend; even so, Ogundeji is committed to being part of their development.

“There’s a lot of young guys now that are playing,” Ogundeji said. “With the injuries we have had there’s a lot of young guys stepping up. I’m a senior, I’ve been in their shoes, I know what they’re doing and what they’re feeling. I just try to teach them and get them along too.”

Ogundeji and his fellow defensive ends face a distinct challenge this week in Navy. Navy has thrown the ball just 62 times this year in eight games, opting to keep the ball on the ground almost exclusively in the triple option. This offensive style is physical, and gives the quarterback the power to direct the play as it goes on.

“It’s definitely different,” Ogundeji said. “[Navy plays] the triple option and no other team does that on our schedule so it’s definitely different, but you have to have focus and you have to have attention to detail. The biggest thing is you have to do your job. It sounds cliché but it’s definitely the right thing. You have to know when you have the dive, you have to know when you have the quarterback and when you have the pitch. That’s the big part of beating their offense.”

A triple option team is often only as good as its quarterback, and Navy has found a gem in senior Malcom Perry. He has already rushed for 1,042 yards thus far, getting 6.6 yards per carry and making sound decisions with the football. Ogundeji knows that keeping him contained will be key to victory.

“He’s definitely explosive,” Ogundeji said. “Last time we played Navy he was in the slot and he was moving. Now he’s at quarterback running the offense and he’s definitely explosive.

We’ve seen on film that he’s a guy who can do it all. He’s fast and he likes to get in there and be physical. He’s going to be a handful on Saturday, it’s going to be good.”

This will be the 93rd meeting of the schools. It is one of the most storied rivalries in college football and the two sides have built respect for each other over the decades. Ogundeji was no different.

“I have such high respect for Navy’s program, especially from [senior safety] Alohi [Gilman], learning his story and learning his path through here, I have such high respect for them,” Ogundeji said. “They sacrifice so much to get to what they are trying to get to. They are not just regular student-athletes or football players, they do so much.

Much more than we do. I have so much respect for those guys, that’s why it’s going to be a big challenge for us on Saturday.”

Contact Jack Concannon at jconcan2@nd.edu

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Insider Sports

The observer | friday, November 15, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

HEAD T 2:30 p.m. ET | notre dame stadium

ZACHARY YIM | The Observer

IRISH PASSING While not the weakest part of their offensive scheme, Notre Dame’s passing efforts have not lived up to the expectations set with the return of Ian Book, Chris Finke and two big targets in Cole Kmet and Chase Claypool. Although Book completed 18 of 32 passes against Duke, the big takeaway was his ability to create, leading all rushers with 139 yards. Meanwhile, the gritty, in-thetrenches defense Navy boasts is a force for the run game but leaves gaps for the offense to make moves over the top. Their opponents have averaged a staggering 201 passing yards per game, and this should be the perfect opportunity for Book to look downfield to those big receivers.

notre dame

ZACHARY YIM | The Observer

total defense. All this should be taken with a grain of salt, given Notre Dame’s and Navy’s clearly differing strength of schedules. Even so, this will pose a stiff test for the Irish. Chip Long has done an adequate job this season of designing good plays, even when the offense hasn’t capitalized on them, but he’s hamstrung by injuries at receiver and on the offensive line. This offense needs to be efficient, since the triple option will extend Navy’s time of possession, and therein lies the issue. Given the propensity of the Irish offense for slow starts and missed opportunities, the Midshipmen get the edge.

(So.) Braden Lenzy 25 (so.) Joe Wilkins 18

(Sr.) Liam Eichenberg 74 (Jr.) Tony

Jones Jr.

6 8

(Jr.) Jafar Armstrong

(Sr.) Ian Book 12

(So.) Phil Jurkovec 15

RB QB

(Fr.) Andrew Kristofic 73

(Jr.) Aaron Banks 69 (Jr.) Dillan Gibbons 76

(So.) Jarrett Patterson 55 (Jr.) Colin Grunhard 61

(Gr.) Trevor Ruhland 57 (So.) John Dirksen 56

(Jr.) Josh Lugg 75

EDGE: Navy

(So.) Cole Mabry

60

(Jr.) Cole Kmet

84

(So.) Tommy Tremble 24

(Gr.) Chris

IRISH OFFENSIVE SPECIAL TEAMS

Finke

10

Claypool

83

(So.) Lawrence Keys III

EDGE: Notre Dame IRISH RUSHING Navy has the 17th-best rushing defense in the FBS. The Midshipmen have only faced two opponents who are particularly strong on the ground, but they managed to hold Tulane (10th in rushing offense, 261.2 yards/ game) to 187 rushing yards on 42 rushes and Air Force (2nd in rushing offense, 323.1 yards/game) to 108 yards on 45 rushes, good for 2.4 yards/carry. The Irish finally have Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones Jr., their intended starters at the beginning of the season, back healthy and opening up options for the offense. However, the fact of the matter remains that the Notre Dame offensive line depth is sparse with Tommy Kraemer and Robert Hainsey out. The Irish managed to run all over Duke, but Navy is highly disciplined and should put up much more of a stand on the ground.

Notre Dame special teams have been solid thus far. Kicker Jonathan Doerer has made everything under 30 yards and all 37 of his extra points. While this is often taken for granted, it is somewhat of a luxury in college football to be automatic on kicks that should always be made. Jay Bramblett’s skill holding was on full display against Virginia Tech, and he has been punting the ball well, too. Punt returner Chris Finke put his athleticism on display in the receiving game against Duke, tripling his year-long touchdown total from one to three in one game.

However, the punt return unit has been somewhat lackluster, with Finke only electing to return 12 punts to date. While the lack of returns may be disappointing to some, he has only fumbled once and makes sound decisions between fair catching and returning punts.

(Sr.) Chase

13

(Sr.) Javon McKinley 88

(Sr.) Troy Pride Jr. 5

(Gr.) Shaun Crawford 20

(Jr.) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 6

(So.) Paul Moala 13

(Sr.) Jalen Elliott

21

(So.) Houston Griffith 3

SS

WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR WR

CB

Rover

(Sr.) Jamir Jones 44 (So.) Ovie Oghoufo 29

(R-So.) Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa 95 (Jr.) Drew White 40 (So.) Bo Bauer 52

(Sr.) Alohi Gilman

11

(Fr.) Kyle Hamilton 14

MLB

(So.) Jayson Ademilola 57

(Jr.) Kurt Hinish 41 (Fr.) Jacob Lacey 54

(Sr.) Khalid Kareem 53

FS

(Sr.) Adetokunbo Ogundeji 91

(Gr.) Asmar Bilal 22 (So.) Shayne Simon 33

Buck

(So.) TaRiq Bracy 28

EDGE: Even

DE DT NG DE

(Sr.) Donte Vaughn 8

CB

IRISH SCHEDULE (7-2) EDGE: Navy IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING Navy only gives up 18.13 points per game.

Against their two best opponents, they ceded 35 points to No. 18 Memphis and a season-high 38 to Tulane, two teams that rank 21st and 22nd nationally in total offense, respectively. Notre Dame stands 54th nationally in total offense, precisely double Navy’s standing, while the Midshipmen are 17th in

Sept. 2 @ Louisville (W 35-17) Sept. 14 New Mexico (W 66-14) Sept. 21 @ Georgia (L 23-17) Sept. 28 Virginia (W 35-20) Oct. 5 Bowling Green (W 52-0) Oct. 12 USC (W 30-27) Oct. 26 @ Michigan (L 45-14) Nov. 2 Virginia Tech (W 30-27) Nov. 9 @ Duke (W 38-7) Nov. 16 Navy Nov. 23 Boston College Nov. 30 @ Stanford

(Sr.) Jonathan Doerer 39 (Fr.) Harrison Leonard 98

(Fr.) Jay Bramblett 19 (Fr.) Harrison Leonard 98

(Gr.) Chris Finke 10 (Sr.) Alohi Gilman 11

PK P PR

Charlotte Edmonds

Connor Mulvena

Hayden Adams

Managing Editor

Sports Editor

Associate Sports Editor

If it isn’t Pitt then it must be Navy! I hesitate to call this a trap game considering the fact that we’re dealing with a two-loss Notre Dame, but with the possibility of making it to a New Year’s Six Bowl on the line, this earns the honor of being a trap game. The Midshipmen are gritty, relentless and with the exception of possibly Georgia Tech, can be credited with having perfected the triple option. Oh, did I mention they’re 7-1, with their lone loss coming from a Houston team that is far better than their record indicates?

But still, surely Notre Dame can handle things at home.

Chris Finke finally showed up last week. I’ll forever be wary of Navy, and I don’t expect them to be rattled by the cold temperatures this week. It may not be pretty. That’s just the nature of the triple option. But it’ll get done.

FINAL: Notre Dame 30, Navy 28

We all know the narratives surrounding the Navy game. Triple option leads to injuries, it can always be close, Navy possesses the ball. It’s a game the Irish should never schedule ever, but they do, so we move on.

Navy is a legitimately good football team this season.

Malcolm Perry is a fantastic quarterback for the triple option system, and he’s even shown off his arm with some impressive passes this season. When you have a quarterback who can occasionally throw a fade in the red zone in a triple option offense, that can spell trouble. I actually think Navy is underrated in the rankings.

I think the Irish fall to the Midshipmen here, but not by much.

FINAL: Navy 28, Notre Dame 24

(Fr.) Jay Bramblett 19 (Gr.) Nolan Henry 17

(So.) Lawrence Keys III 13 (So.) Joe Wilkins 18

(Sr.) John Shannon 54 (So.) Michael Vinson 65

H KR LS

Here it is, the stress-inducer of all stress-inducers for Notre Dame Football fans: the Midshipmen. I would think that a 38-7 win over Duke on the road, after some offensive struggles against Michigan and Virginia Tech, would give me confidence that this team is back on the right track. However, herein lies the problem: I don’t know what Notre Dame team is going to show up this weekend. The real issue is that the offense is depleted by injuries. Against a No. 21-ranked Navy team that is almost guaranteed to dominate possession, the Irish offense will need to be uncharacteristically efficient as they will likely be limited to 8-10 total possessions. It’s going to be a tight one as usual, but I think the Irish will pull it out at home.

FINAL: Notre Dame 27, Navy 21

Sports Insider

ndsmcobserver.com | friday, November 15, 2019 | The Observer

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O HEAD on nbc

navy

ZACHARY YIM | The Observer

ZACHARY YIM | The Observer

MIDSHIPMEN PASSING

BC

Cameron Kinley (Jr.)

3

9 Daniel Taylor (So.)

Will Striker DT NG LE

WR

WR

H KR LS

Jacob Springer (Jr.) 17 1

Tony Brown (So.)

J’arius Warren (So.) (R-Jr.)

99

Jackson Pittman (Sr.)

Bandit

10

Kevin Brennan (So.)

8 Elan Nash (Sr.)

95 Tobe Okafor (Jr.)

97 Dave Tolentino (Sr.)

Mike

54

Diego Fagot (So.)

42 Sion Harrington (Sr.)

Jackson Perkins (Jr.)

96

52 Denzel Polk (Sr.)

56

Nizaire Cromartie (Sr.)

33 Carter Bankston (Sr.)

FS

11

Evan Fochtman (Jr.)

15 Noruwa Obanor (Sr.)

Michael McMorris (So.) 14 5

Micah Farrar (Jr.)

87

Ryan Mitchell (Jr.)

13 Chance Warren (So.)

SB RT RG C LG LT

Paul Carothers (Sr.)

41 Tyler Pistorio (Sr.)

94

Raider FC

51

25

EDGE: Notre Dame

Tazh Maloy (Sr.)

MIDSHIPMEN RUSHING

23 Myles Fells (Jr.)

Billy Honaker (Jr.)

71

79 Justin Self (Jr.)

Peter Nestrowitz (Jr.)

73

66 Niko Yaraus (Sr.)

72

Ford Higgins (Sr.)

59 Eric Cal (Sr.)

68

FB QB

34

Jamale Carothers (So.)

43 Nelson Smith (Jr.)

10

Malcolm Perry (Sr.)

6 Perry Olsen (Fr.)

David Forney (Sr.)

66 Niko Yaramus (Sr.)

76

Kendel Wright (Sr.)

79 Justin Self (Jr.)

SB 3

20

CJ Williams (Jr.)

28 Keoni-Kordell Makekau (Jr.)

Mychal Cooper (So.)

86 OJ Davis (Sr.)

18

J.R. Osborn (Sr.)

4 Owen White (Sr.)

Gerrett Winn (Jr.) 20

26

CJ Williams (Jr.)

44

Michael Pifer (Sr.)

49 Kyle Gibbs (Jr.)

Nav y has attempted just 62 passes in their eight games, opting to keep the ball on the ground with their triple option more often than not. They are extremely effective when they do go to the air, earning 12.8 yards per attempt, second in the FBS to Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. They have also thrown four interceptions on those few pass attempts, an abysmal total that leaves them vulnerable to takeaways. Pass plays are Nav y’s equivalent of a high-risk-highreward trick play that can go for big gains or become costly turnovers. If the Midshipmen take care of the ball, the pass should be open, as Notre Dame will inevitably have to focus on the run. Still, their turnover-prone nature and infrequent throwing makes their passing game a relative non-factor compared to most opponents.

PK P PR

43

Bijan Nichols (Fr.)

4 Owen White (Sr.)

4

Owen White (Sr.)

43 Bijan Nichols (Fr.)

26 1

Gerrett Winn (Jr.) Jacob Springer (Jr.)

Notre Dame vs. Temple

It’s inevitable for a triple-option team, especially a quality Navy one that is No. 1 in the country in rushing offense with the fifth-most yards/carry (6.08) and the most yards per game (357.9) and rushing touchdowns (36). Granted, their strength of schedule is not in upper echelon, but their rushing attack is dominant thanks to a highly disciplined group. The Midshipmen likely won’t pick the Irish apart through the air, but it’s virtually impossible to snuff out a tripleoption ground game when executed to perfection. The Notre Dame defense has consistently done well stopping the run game save for the blowout in Ann Arbor, but the sheer volume of rushes and time of possession should wear the Irish down defensively.

EDGE: Navy MIDSHIPMEN OFFENSIVE COACHING Ivin Jasper leads the triple option offense as offensive coordinator for the Midshipmen. Jasper has managed to

Ellen Geyer

Jack Concannon

Sports Writer

Sports Writer

Ugh. The cursed triple option.

The Irish have been stressing me out the entire season, and this game is no exception. However, I see two bright spots in looking ahead to this matchup: 1. Notre Dame faced what was almost a quadruple-like option against Louisville to open the season, and, with no preparation, still made it out alive.

2. Brian Kelly knows what it takes to face the triple option, as highlighted in last year’s 44-22 rout of the Midshipmen.

Ian Book made me eat my words a little bit last week in Durham when he became the first QB with four passing touchdowns and 100+ rushing yards in a game. This matchup always threatens to be a trap game. This year is no different, but I think Notre Dame can get this one done.

This is a game that I loathe seeing on the schedule every year.

Navy chews clock, giving you limited possessions and opportunities to make adjustments. They can take 10 minutes off of the clock with a single drive, wearing your defense out in the process.

The Irish got the better of the Midshipmen last year, but that was a much different Navy team. This Navy team has scored 34 points or more in fivestraight contests.

The Midshipmen have not won in South Bend since 2009, and I do not believe this is the Irish team that will end that streak. Strap in for a stressful game, but the Irish take it.

FINAL: Notre Dame 38, Navy 21

FINAL: Notre Dame 24, Navy 17

put together a solid unit this year, and granted, a lot of that has to do with the extraordinary play of senior quarterback Malcolm Perry, but the unit has come up with some interesting plays in the red zone outside of the triple-option. Plus, the Midshipmen currently rank ninth in the nation in offensive efficiency. Pair that with the fact that the Irish rank 64th in defense against the rush, and you start to worry about the Notre Dame defense, even though it has shown signs of mastery this year. Ultimately, considering Notre Dame’s struggles against the run at certain key moments this year, you could give Navy’s triple option scheme the edge here.

EDGE: Navy MIDSHIPMEN OFFENSIVE SPECIAL TEAMS Senior punter Owen White is averaging nearly 45 yards per attempt and has somehow only recorded one touchback all season. Similarly, the Midshipmen average nearly 20 yards per kickoff return, so they’ll definitely be able to put up a fight to open those drives. Special teams is also incredibly disciplined and shouldn’t expect to make many silly mistakes. Notre Dame’s defensive presence on special teams has certainly improved and has come up big at times (e.g., Georgia), but is not conclusively better to warrant tipping the scale that way.

EDGE: Even MIDSHIPMEN SCHEDULE (7-1) Aug. 31 Holy Cross (W 45-7) Sept. 14 East Carolina (W 42-10) Sept. 26 @ Memphis (L 23-35) Oct. 5 Air Force (L 34-25) Oct. 12 @ Tulsa (W 45-17) Oct. 19 South Florida (W 35-3) Oct. 26 Tulane (W 41-38) Nov. 1 @ UConn (W 56-10) Nov. 16 @ Notre Dame Nov. 23 Southern Methodist Nov. 30 @ Houston Dec. 7 AAC Championship Game Dec. 14 @ Army

Follow Observer Sports on Twitter for live updates and analysis during the game this weekend and all season long. @ObserverSports

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Insider

The observer | friday, November 15, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Irish pitch recruits as missing links to success

By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor

With the regular season winding down and only three games left on Notre Dame’s schedule, thoughts of the 2020 recruiting class become more prevalent.

The Irish have struggled this season on the offensive side of the ball against premier competition, a fact that can be cause for concern with how much more offensive-minded college football has become.

According to Bryan Driskell of Sports Illustrated, in order to alleviate their offensive woes, the Notre Dame coaching staff are seeking out athleticism to put the Irish on par with the top tier teams in college football.

“I think Notre Dame is still trying to close the gap with Clemson and Alabama from a speed and explosiveness standpoint,” Driskell said. “Brian Kelly mentioned that recently and although they have certainly done a good job adding that to recent classes, there’s always room for improvement. That’s why the 2020 class is so important.”

The Irish have put their best foot forward in the recruiting arena, locking up high-end talent for

the upcoming year.

“With [four-star all-purpose back] Chris Tyree in the class and [three-star wide receiver] Xavier Watts and [five-star wide receiver] Jordan Johnson, Notre Dame has three very explosive players on offense,” Driskell said.

“So they’re certainly closing that gap on offense. I think there’s still a need for a little bit more athleticism to be added on the back end of the defense and I think that’s going to be a priority, especially for the 2021 class. … [But] those three guys are really just difference-maker type of recruits for Notre Dame.”

Despite missing some of his senior year with an injury, Tyree has been playing very well among strong competition, Driskell said.

“Chris Tyree missed a good chunk of the middle part of the season because he had an ankle injury. But when he’s been healthy, he’s been really dynamic,” he said. “Last I checked, he was averaging a little over 10 yards a carry. He’s one of the most dynamic players in the entire country. He plays at a very strong level of football in Virginia.”

At the receiver position, Watts has also been performing very well for his team on both sides of

the ball.

“Xavier Watts has been absolutely dominant this season for Burke High School in Omaha, has over 1000 yards receiving,” Driskell said. “They won a conference championship again, and he’s also an All-State-caliber defensive back. And his ability to dominate on both sides of the ball really is what stands out about him when you compare him to other players in this class, he’s just a tremendous football player.”

As for Johnson, his numbers haven’t been as expected from a player of his prestige.

However, Driskell said it is simply because he has had to defer somewhat to the various talent around him.

“Jordan Johnson is in an interesting situation, because his numbers aren’t exactly numbers you would expect to see from an elite player, and part of that is because his team is just so good, that they [are] just really dominating people. They are currently I believe … still 10-0, right now, and their closest game they’ve had this year was within a point.

Every other one that they’ve had has been by double digits. I mean, they’ve won 63-0 twice, 49-7, 49-3, 49-7, 50-7, you get the point. His Paid Advertisement

numbers haven’t exactly been great because he’s coming out of the game at halftime a lot. And so, if you look at his total numbers, he’s got 22 catches for 442 yards, but eight of those 22 catches were for touchdowns, and so he makes that early impact and then they blow a team out. So he’s having a really good season, he’s right on track for what you’d expect for him to be from a development standpoint.”

As Notre Dame gears up for a top-25 matchup against No. 23 Navy, this game holds few implications in terms of recruiting for the Irish according to Driskell.

Rather, as he mentioned, this game — and the two after it — form a composite effort for the Irish to continue racking up wins and putting together another solid campaign to remain in the conversation as an elite program.

“The vast majority of Notre Dame’s games — with the exception of USC, Georgia, Michigan — most of their games aren’t games that are going to sway kids one way or the other. [They don’t] mean you’re all of a sudden going to land the No. 5 player in the country. It’s more about the big picture. It’s more about Notre Dame winning and getting

to 8-2 and getting into the top-15, and then beating Boston College and then beating Stanford, going 10-2 and getting in the top-10,” Driskell said. “So it’s more about is Notre Dame, a program that’s put itself in position to be a playoff-contending team year after year? That’s more important than a specific victory.”

Driskell emphasized his point with stories of high-level Notre Dame commits remaining loyal to the Irish despite abysmal performances during their visits.

“I’ve seen kids, [like] Manti Te’o visited Notre Dame in 2008 in a game where Notre Dame lost to a two-win Syracuse team, and the student section was throwing snowballs at the players and he went inside at halftime [because he was] so cold. He still picked Notre Dame. So the specific games don’t matter as much,” he said. “I think Michael Floyd visited Notre Dame when they lost to USC 38-0. It’s more about can Notre Dame present itself as a bigtime program where these young people can go and compete for championships? That matters more than a specific game.”

Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu

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ndsmcobserver.com | friday, November 15, 2019 | The Observer

7

Navy prepares for match following bye week

By CONNER MULVENA Sports Editor

No. 23 Nav y will head to South Bend this weekend to take on the No. 16 Irish in the 93rd matchup of this rivalry.

The Irish will have to fend off a nationally ranked Nav y (71, 5-1 AAC) with a stud quarterback in Malcolm Perry.

After practice Tuesday, Nav y head football coach Ken Niumatalolo addressed the media to preview his team’s upcoming matchup against the Irish (7-2).

The Midshipmen are coming off a bye week, and, considering some of the injuries the squad is facing ahead of the matchup this weekend, Niumatalolo said the bye week is always helpful for the team in terms of recovery.

“It’s the best team we’re going to play on our schedule, so the extra time is good for you. But everybody is banged up at this time of the year.

So that extra week kind of helped us recover a little bit,” Niumatalolo said.

But when asked about the challenge that Notre Dame poses as an opponent,

Niumatalolo was frank about the history of the matchup.

“I mean, we’ve lost to them a lot,” Niumatalolo said.

“They’re a good program, you know, coach Kelly is as good a football coach as there is. They’re always well prepared. I mean, it’s always hard for us to beat those guys. Like I said, the last time we beat them, we played almost perfect. We had the ball for 40 minutes, they only had the ball six times, I think we scored every time we had the ball, and we beat them by a point. And that was one of their down years. So it’s always going to be hard to beat those guys, but we’re going to do the best we can. Well the truth is, we have to play perfect, and they’ve got to be off.

That’s just the truth. I mean, we’ve got to hit a few three’s off the glass, bank off the backboard, and they’ve got to miss some layups. I say that every year, but that’s just the truth, and we recognize that.

We’ll do the best we can, but it’s going to be hard to beat those guys.”

But luckily for the Midshipmen, their senior

quarterback Malcolm Perry is having a career year.

Niumatalolo said it’s always a plus when your quarterback is playing good football on the field consistently throughout the season.

“Well, when your quarterback is playing well and your quarterback is your best player, it gives you a shot,” Noimatalolo said. “We’re going to need him to play well for us to have a chance.”

For Niumatalolo, at the end of the day, it comes down to execution.

The veteran coach also said he is doing what he can to prepare his team for a frigid afternoon in South Bend.

Tempatures are expected to dip to around 32 degrees around game time, which could prove to be difficult conditions to play in.

But the Midshipmen are accustomed to the chilly tempatures.

“We’re playing as well as we’ve ever played, so that gives you confidence. But, we’ve still got to go in there and perform. Our guys are playing well, but like I said, they’re a really good team,” Paid Advertisement

Niumatalolo said. “Well, we’re just doing all we can right now. Obviously we’re shivering right now, and it’s going to be cold on Saturday, so we’ve got to get ready for the weather. It’s going to be cold there. So, I’d obviously like to go indoors, but we’ve got to get ready for the weather.”

Perry answered some of the media’s questions after practice as well.

Perry started by expressing his excitement for the opportunity that lies ahead this weekend as his team squares off against the Irish.

“Coming to Notre Dame, you know that’s one of the games that is going to be on the schedule every year, so it’s a huge game, huge opportunity,” he said. “It’s something you dream about as a kid, playing against a great team like Notre Dame. ... I’m looking forward to it.”

Although the game presents a big opportunity for Perry himself, the chance to be seen on national television and get some recognition for his excellent play, the senior said he is entirely focused on

winning a team game.

“That’s not something I really think about. My main focus is getting the team in the best position to win the game. And that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Perry said.

Finally, Perry said scoring will be key for the Midshipmen, and he expressed his confidence in this year’s team to get that done.

“I think that’s the good thing about this team this year — we have a lot of guys that can score points, a lot of guys that we can use in the run game, in the pass game.

And that’s why we come out to practice every day and work on that, and we’ll try to make it work on Saturday,” he said. “You can’t make mistakes, we know that going in. You’ve got to make plays.

You’ve got to be able to be consistent.”

The Irish will square off against Nav y on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium.

Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

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The observer | friday, November 15, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

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