Opportune Notre Dame Sinks Navy’s Unbeaten Season

Kris Mitchell #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Met Life Stadium in New York City on Oct. 26, 2024. Edward Diller/Getty Images

The No. 12-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish capitalized on six turnovers by No. 24 Navy in a 51–14 rout on Saturday.

“I thought the state might have been a little too big for us,” Navy head coach Brian Newberry told reporters afterward. “We had guys that tried to play outside themselves.”

Navy (6–1) came in unbeaten but the Irish took control early amid two fumbles by the Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Irish quarterback Rile Leonard ran for a 1-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wideout Kris Mitchell, three plays after the first Navy fumble for a 14–0 lead.

“We challenged the group,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman told reporters. “We had to play complementary football today. That was a point of emphasis. This team was No. 2 in the country in turnover margin, and I just told the guys we’re plus-six in the turnover margin. That’s huge. That’s complementary football.”

Navy answered after the second fumble and a missed Irish field goal with a 47-yard touchdown run by quarterback Blake Horvath to make it 14–7 in the second quarter. Notre Dame (7-1) then responded with a big play as running back Jeremiyah Love went 64 yards to the end zone for a 21–7, and Love struck again with a 2-yard touchdown run on the following drive; a 9-play, 40-yard effort.

“Listen, Jeremiah Love, the kid’s going to create a big play. He’s got a chance to create a big play,” Freeman said. “He’s got a chance to create a big play every time he has the ball in his hands. And that’s what, to me, you saw today, some really good connections and executions between the wideouts and quarterback, but also Jeremiyah Love being Jeremiyah Love.”

Navy chipped away at the lead in the third quarter when Horvarth scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 12-play drive, but Leonard then connected with wideout Beaux Collins for a 37-yard touchdown and a 38-14 lead. The Midshipmen then fumbled twice on the next drive, and the second cost the most as Irish linebacker Jaylen Sneed recovered the fumble for a touchdown, 44–14.

Navy threatened to make it a little closer early in the fourth quarter with a drive to the Notre Dame 17-yard line but Irish cornerback Leonard Moore picked off Horvath to thwart that chance. Notre Dame running back Kedren Young added to the lead, 51–14, two drives later on a 4-yard touchdown run.

“You know, with the snap of a finger, you can be thrust into the spotlight,” Freeman said about Moore. “Leonard Moore earned the trust through fall camp, through the season. And (when) Benjamin Morrison goes down, and he (Moore) is thrust into the spotlight. Now everybody recognizes it, but he earned that through his preparation, the way he came in here as a true freshman and he approached fall camp, approached each week that way. And so, that’s what we’ve got to continue to tell our guys: earn the trust of your teammates and your coaches first.”

Leonard finished with 178 yards on 13–21 passing plus 83 yards rushing on 10 carries. Love led the ground game with 102 yards on 12 carries, and Young tallied 52 yards on 10 carries.

Navy rushed for 222 yards as a team as Horvath led with 129 yards on 14 carries, and he threw for 88 yards on 7-13 passing. Midshipmen running back Eli Heidenreich rushed for 51 yards on 11 carries, and wide receiver Alex Tezca produced 72 yards of total offense.

Notre Dame gets a bye week next with Florida State (1-6) on Nov. 9 in South Bend, Indiana, around the corner. Navy will look to regroup at Rice (2–5) on Nov. 2.

“We want the best, but we’re going to enjoy today,” Freeman said. “I’m proud of the way they prepared, the way they played. For the most part after halftime, how we came out with a sense of urgency to continue to execute in three phases and improve. And so, it’s a big win for this program.”