Notre Dame football kept their oh so slim college football playoff hopes alive by winning decisively at home versus ancient arch-rival Navy. Of course, USC did them zero favors by embarrassing themselves at home versus Washington Thursday night.
The Fighting Irish will need Clemson and Stanford to win out, in addition to finishing 11-1 themselves, in order to have any remote chance of reaching the playoff.
It all starts with ND taking care of business themselves, and that’s exactly what they did versus a very game Naval Academy squad.
You may associate the Navy with a prolific aerial assault (Top Gun is a timeless classic film), and this Notre Dame football game began with a flyover by four U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets.
Navy’s football team however, doesn’t rely on the aerial attack. The Midshipmen attempted just five passes through the first three quarters, as they employ a ground-oriented approach that rolled up over 300 yards rushing this afternoon.
The Irish got it done on the ground too, as C.J. Prosise has now recorded 100 yards rushing in four of the last five games. He had three rushing touchdowns and 129 yards on 21 carries. According to Notre Dame football sports information department:
“Prosise also ran for three TDs against Georgia Tech on Sept. 19. He joins Frank Lonergan (1902) and Reggie Brooks (1992) as the only running backs to have two three-rushing TD games for the Irish in the same season. Lonergan had four rushing TDs against both DePauw and Chicago Physicians and Surgeons. Brooks had three against both Purdue and USC.
Yes, Chicago Physicians and Surgeons, what a mighty college football powerhouse they once were.
The Irish went on to win quite handily 41-24; in full view of Orange Bowl scouts. There were six Orange Bowl reps listed on the seating chart, because of course you need six different minds to coalesce on a bowl decision selection to be made two months from now.
(Even though you can scout a team from your couch, and that bowl game scouting consists of nothing but estimating what teams will generate the best hotel room sales).
Getting back to today’s action, ND QB1 DeShone Kizer articulated the urgency of Notre Dame’s remaining games.
“Our guys understand that the margin of loss is very small right now, so as long as that, we continue to prepare the way we prepared this week and play as if it’s one or done,” said Kizer.
“And that we’re in sort of like March Madness mode, I think we’ll be okay going forward.”
Said Notre Dame football Coach Brian Kelly:
“In our loss to Clemson there was a great deal of disappointment, but they were so professional this week and in the manner that they went back to work. I think that has everything to do with the kind of leaders we have in the locker room.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
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