We might have more of a clear picture of how this game between Notre Dame and Navy will go. The Irish came in as the favorite, though they didn’t start like it. However, the talent discrepancy between them and the Midshipmen finally began to show itself. That means the Irish have a 17-3 halftime lead.
After stopping the Midshipmen on their first possession of the second quarter, the Irish showed more signs of life on offense. There was a Kyren Williams run here, a Michael Mayer gain there, and they set up a 38-yard pass from Jack Coan to Kevin Austin, which put the Irish at the Navy 11-yard line. An illegal block from Braden Lenzy set things back and might have cost the Irish a touchdown as they only got as far as the 6 after that. Jonathan Doerer tied the game on a 24-yard field goal.
The Irish then forced another three-and-out, which paved the way for a run-heavy drive mainly led by Tyler Buchner. Williams, Buchner and Logan Diggs pushed through on the ground before reaching the red zone. An 11-yard pass from Buchner to Austin was the first sign that this drive would end more successfully than the last one because that placed the ball at the 1. After that, Williams only needed one play to score the game’s first touchdown after that.
The Midshipmen once again failed to pick up a first down on the next possession, but they may have lost more than a chance to chip away at the deficit. Tai Lavatai suffered an injury on the field and was helped back to the locker room. Xavier Arline took over at quarterback for one play, but we’ll see if he’ll be needed for more in the second half. A 65-yard punt from Riley Riethman down the ball at the Irish’s 5.
All the Midshipmen had to do with time running out in the half was hold the Irish to their own side of the field, and they could go into the break down by only a score. It almost worked, but on third down, Coan found Austin for a 70-yard touchdown on his longest pass of the season. Slowly but surely, things have come up Irish.