[Baltimore Sun] Notre Dame ready for a Navy squad that is vastly improved since their last meeting
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Notre Dame dominated last season’s matchup with Navy with quarterback Sam Hartman and linebacker Jack Kiser leading a 42-3 rout in the season opener at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
The Midshipmen were overmatched on both sides of the ball, getting outgained 444 yards to 169. It was a disappointing debut to the Brian Newberry era at Navy and the team’s offensive struggles in that game provided a glimpse of what would become a season-long issue.
Both sides can agree that Navy no longer resembles the squad that showed up in Dublin. The Midshipmen (6-0) are unbeaten and ranked No. 24 in the latest Associated Press poll. And offense is no longer a problem for the service academy from Annapolis.
First-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic has installed a hybrid Wing-T attack that has Navy ranked fourth nationally in scoring offense and No. 34 in total offense with 44.8 points and 435.8 yards per game.
“A credit to the job Coach Newberry has done with that program,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “From where it was last year when we played them to where it is now — to be 6-0 and doing the things they’re doing — is very impressive.”
Newberry was asked Monday during his weekly media availability about how far the Navy football program has come since last facing Notre Dame on August 26, 2023.
“I’m proud of the growth and development of our football team and what we’ve been able to accomplish so far,” Newberry said. “We have not reached our full potential. While I’m proud of what we’ve done, we’re still a work in progress.”
Navy will look to knock off a ranked team for the second time this season when it meets No. 12 Notre Dame (6-1) on Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This marks the first time since 2019 the Midshipmen and Fighting Irish are both ranked going into the annual matchup.
The Midshipmen are seeking to start a season 7-0 for the first time since 1978 and in order to do so must beat the Irish for just the 14th time in program history.
Navy defeated Notre Dame three times in the span of four seasons from 2007 through 2010, but has done so just once since. The Fighting Irish have won six straight in the series, mostly by lopsided scores. It appears the oddsmakers expect more of the same as Notre Dame has been installed as a double-digit favorite.
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“It’s Notre Dame. They’re super-talented and look like an NFL team,” Newberry said. “They’re big, long and athletic. I think they’re very well-coached and play really hard. They’re very sound fundamentally and technically. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge.”
Navy has beaten Notre Dame a total of five times since ending a historic 43-game losing streak in the series. Newberry said those results provide evidence the Midshipmen can compete with the Fighting Irish despite the obvious disparity in size, strength and speed.
“It doesn’t take a miracle or something super human, but our guys know we’re going to need to play extremely well in all three phases for four quarters just to have a chance,” Newberry said. “At the same time, our guys believe they can go out and win this game.”
This will be the 97th meeting between Navy and Notre Dame and anyone who has followed the rivalry over the years knows why the two institutions have played every year (except 2020) since 1927. The United States Navy saved a financially strapped Notre Dame during World War II by establishing a V-12 training program at the South Bend, Indiana, school.
To show its eternal gratitude, Notre Dame has maintained the football series and Navy uses the annual game as a tool in recruiting.
“It’s a great opportunity for our team and our program. These are the kind of games you want to play in,” Newberry said. “That’s one of the great things about coming to Navy. You get to play Notre Dame every year in a big game on a national stage. Our kids are excited. It’s a great challenge, but it’s a great opportunity as well.”
Quarterback Blake Horvath has been the triggerman of a high-powered offense that ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense (274.8 yards) and second in both passing efficiency (201.78) and passing yards per completion (19.32 yards). The Midshipmen lead the Football Bowl Subdivision in red zone offense, having scored on all 23 trips inside the 20-yard line.
Navy settled for a Nathan Kirkwood field goal late in the first quarter against Charlotte, marking the only time it has not scored a touchdown after reaching the red zone.
Count Freeman among those impressed by what Cronic’s “millennial” version of the Wing-T is doing.
“The thing I notice is that they play with clarity. They play fast and do what they do,” Freeman said. “It’s really hard to simulate in practice the speed at which they run their offense.’
Freeman praised the play of Horvath, who has rushed for team-highs of 621 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has also completed almost 64% of passes for 888 yards and 10 scores, while doing a good job distributing the ball to the various playmakers.
“The quarterback makes really good decisions. If you give him a certain read, he’s going to do exactly what he’s supposed to do,” Freeman said. “He’s a threat with his legs, but has also been doing really well in the passing game. He’s doing a great job of running that offense.”
Kiser is still around to anchor a Notre Dame defense that ranks 10th nationally with an average of 279 yards allowed. Freeman pointed out that Navy ranks sixth nationally with 13 plays of 40 yards or more.
“Eye discipline is going to be so crucial. Lack of eye discipline can truly result in an explosive play,” he said. “This game requires that you are disciplined with your eyes and understand your fits.”
Freeman said Notre Dame has been preparing for Navy since the start of preseason camp. He builds option defense periods into certain practices throughout August and said the Fighting Irish “attacked it again” during their bye week. Former starter Tyler Buchner and Anthony Rezac are splitting repetitions as the scout team quarterback trying to replicate the Navy offense.
“We had a good base, a foundation, for what we planned on doing. We’ve enhanced it since Sunday when we got together to start game planning,” Freeman said.
Freeman believes sacks and tackles for loss will be key to slowing down Navy, which has converted 42% of third down attempts (27-for-65) and is 6-for-7 on fourth down. The Midshipmen rank second nationally in tackles for loss allowed (2.17) and fifth for sacks allowed (three).
“They’ve done a great job of not getting behind the sticks and staying in the flow of what they want their offense to do, so we have to try to create some negative plays,” Freeman said. “There’s an aggressiveness we have to play with tactically. We have to try to get them off schedule a little bit.”
Quarterback Riley Leonard leads a Notre Dame offense that is putting up almost 35 points and 400 yards per game. The Duke transfer has completed almost 67% of passes for 1,182 yards and six touchdowns and is second on the squad in rushing with 456 yards and 10 scores.
“We’ve seen a lot of dual-threat quarterbacks and he’s a really good one. Just a really polished and dangerous player who’s got a great grasp of what they’re doing offensively,” Newberry said. “It’s difficult when the quarterback can throw it as well as he does and also has the ability to run the ball. He’s a really good athlete and you have to account for him on third down when you drop into coverage. He’ll take off and go get a first down.”
Tailback Jeremiyah Love leads the Fighting Irish in rushing with 462 yards and seven touchdowns, while Jadarian Price has 329 yards on the ground. Wide receivers Beaux Collins and Jaden Greathouse are the top targets in the passing game. Notre Dame always has an NFL prospect at tight end and Mitchell Evans fits the mold.
“They’re talented across the board. You don’t find any weaknesses when you look at their team on film,” Newberry said.
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