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SAN DIEGO (AP) – Notre Dame, number 3, had an unattractive start to the game against Navy when best receiver Miles Boykin missed the goal after missing the goal.
It turns out that it was only a hiccup.
"You do not have to think about what happened when you have the whole game in front of you," said quarterback Ian Book, who was remarkably efficient in leading the Fighting Irish to a 44-22 win that held them unbeaten and allowed them to qualify for the playoffs.
Book threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and Dexter Williams ran for 142 yards and three goals.
Notre Dame is 8-0 for the first time since 2012, when she remained undefeated until she was led by Alabama in the BCS national title game.
Notre Dame had a total attack of 584 yards as she extended her dominance into the oldest ever-running intersectional rivalry at 78-13-1.
Playing in San Diego for the first time, Notre Dame used her superior size and talent to take a 27-0 lead just before half-time. While the defense mastered the triple option of the Navy, Book preserved the balance of aspirants with many actions. He completed 27 of 33 passes, to 10 receivers. He launched an interception.
Book, of El Dorado Hills near Sacramento, has improved to 5-0 since the replacement of Brandon Wimbush as a starter. Book threw Boykin's 4 and 22-yard touchdown passes in the second half.
The fumbles of the match did not hurt because Notre Dame gave three goals to the Navy.
"We had to do something and we could not do it," said coach Ken Niumatalolo. "It has a lot to do with them. They are a good team. "
According to Book, the Fighting Irish just needed to have "the next state of mind". I know Miles is mentally strong. It was the first piece. Take a little momentum. We come back in offense, I know we are strong. It's football. Things like that are happening. That's how you bounce.
Notre Dame did so by scoring on four of his next five possessions. JaFar Armstrong scored one goal and Williams then touched the 12, 9 and 2-yard touchdowns. Williams wore 23 times.
"We played very well," said coach Brian Kelly about the first half. "We liked our plan. We thought it was complete in what we wanted to do. … Happy to go out here with a win, with a lot of good things to build, from the beginning of last month. "
The Navy (2-6), who lost his fifth straight, finally managed to break through the big games that led Zach Abey to score two touchdowns in the third quarter. Book was intercepted early in the fourth quarter, setting up a 33-yard touchdown by Mike Martin.
"I'm glad this match is over," said Kelly. "Every time we play Navy, it's a chore of preparation. They are very difficult to prepare because you have to manage the most efficient and effective operation compared to the triple option in all football. I do not like this week, get ready for Ken's teams. I'm just excited to move on to next week with a win.
Niumatalolo knew that the aspirants had to play perfectly to create a shock, and they did not do it.
"They are ranked No. 3 for a reason," said the brand participants. "A really strong and focused group. We have already faced coach Kelly's teams and he is one of his best teams. "
The Navy was third at 309.4 yards per game and 292 yards against Notre Dame. Malcolm Perry had 133 yards in 12 runs.
The match, which drew a crowd of 63,626 spectators to the SDCCU stadium, was promoted by the San Diego Bowl Game Association.
L & # 39; boarding
Notre Dame: After getting rallied to beat Pitt and save their season, the Fighting Irish had a week off to prepare for the Navy's triple option. This showed that the aspirants had no chance of succeeding until the second half when they were well behind.
Navy: The aspirants dropped to 3-5 in San Diego. It was the first time they faced an opponent of the caliber of Notre Dame. The contenders were 1-0 in the Holiday Bowl, 2-2 in the late Poinsettia Bowl and 0-2 against the state of San Diego.
FOLLOWING
Notre Dame visits northwest Saturday.
The Navy returns to the American Athletics Conference Saturday in Cincinnati.
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