Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - Carlyle Holiday's 67-yard touchdown pass to Omar Jenkins with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter lifted ninth-ranked Notre Dame to a 30-23 comeback win over Navy. The Fighting Irish (9-1) battled from an eight-point deficit in the final quarter to beat the Midshipmen (1-8) for the 39th straight time.
Holiday's 29-yard pass to Jenkins set up the tying score and Vontez Duff returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown for Notre Dame, which was beaten last week at home by Boston College. The Fighting Irish haven't lost to Navy since 1963, but the Midshipmen came close after holding the lead through most of the fourth quarter.
Navy, which didn't play last week, lost its eighth straight game and has fallen 34 straight times to a ranked opponent. The last win for the Midshipmen over a ranked team was September 20, 1985 over Virginia.
Notre Dame came into the game ranked seventh nationally against the run, allowing 84.6 yards per game, but surrendered 216 yards to Navy. Nevertheless, the Irish pulled the game out with a late touchdown.
The Irish were behind 23-15, but tied the game on a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 4:28 remaining. Rashon Powers-Neal scored on a two-yard run off left tackle and Holiday found Arnaz Battle in the right side of the end zone for the two-point conversion. The TD was set up by a 29-yard pass play from Holiday to Jenkins.
Then on the first play following a Navy punt, Holiday aired the ball out to Jenkins, who made the catch on the right side of the field behind three defenders and raced to the end zone.
Free safety Glenn Earl then picked off Aaron Polanco with 1:35 left, but Navy got the ball back. However, Polanco was intercepted by linebacker Courtney Watson with 31 seconds left.
Navy quarterback Craig Candeto was in the game for the first four plays before spraining his left ankle. Polanco took over the rest of the way and ran 24 times for 39 yards and two scores. He completed just 5-of-14 passes for 40 yards and was picked off twice.
Holiday connected on 13-of-21 passes for 272 yards, while Jenkins caught four passes for 166 yards. Powers-Neal rushed 17 times for 51 yards for the Irish, who outgained the Midshipmen, 340-268.
Navy took a surprising 14-9 lead as Polanco scored on a one-yard sneak with 9:19 left in the third quarter. The Midshipmen needed to go just 44 yards for the score as Aaron Weedo ran back a punt 45 yards.
The Irish went right back on top on Duff's kickoff return for a score. Duff, who also ran back a punt 76 yards for a score against Maryland earlier this year, cut to the left side of the field before racing untouched into the end zone. Holiday's pass attempt on a two-point conversion failed, leaving the Irish ahead 15-14.
Navy's toughness continued though, and the Middies went back in front 20-15 Eric Roberts' 10-yard run with 3:17 left in the third. Polanco started the option play and pitched back to Roberts, who rumbled on the right side into the end zone. That capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive in which the Midshipmen converted a 4th-and-1 with a 21-yard run by Lane. Polanco couldn't run in the two-point conversion attempt.
Notre Dame's third turnover of the day led to a 36-yard field goal by Eric Rolfs with 1:07 left in the third quarter, as Navy extended to a 23-15 lead. Linebacker Lane Jackson's hit on Ryan Grant forced a fumble and Ben Mathews pounced on the football at the Notre Dame 20.
Notre Dame would score first, as a high snap went over the head of punter John Skaggs, and he ran back into the end zone for a safety with 10:38 left in the opening quarter.
Navy used a 95-yard drive to take a 7-2 lead as Polanco scored on a 12-yard rush with 4:30 left in the first quarter. Lane broke several tackles during a 38-yard run to set up the score, as the Midshipmen used a 12-play drive to go in front.
Tom Lopienski surged over the top into the end zone from a yard out to lift the Irish back in front 9-7 with 13:01 remaining in the second quarter. The Irish moved 74 yards in 13 plays, taking nearly 6 1/2 minutes off the clock. Holiday passed into double coverage to Maurice Stovall for a 38-yard connection to the Navy 1 to set up the score.
The Irish turned the ball over near midfield with 9:43 left in the second quarter, as there was a poor exchange between Holiday and Grant on a handoff attempt. but Navy could not capitalize.
Notre Dame had a chance to take the lead at the half, but Navy's Vaughn Kelly leaped to block Nick Setta's 53-yard field goal attempt with eight seconds left.
