Kyren Williams ran for two touchdowns and No. 10 Notre Dame recorded a key fourth-quarter safety in a 34-6 win over Navy on Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
Jack Coan went 23-for-29 passing for 269 yards and one touchdown, and Kevin Austin Jr. had six receptions for a career-high 139 yards for Notre Dame (8-1). Williams gained 95 yards on 17 carries.
Midshipmen starting quarterback Tai Lavatai sustained a neck injury during the second quarter and did not return. Xavier Arline replaced him and only had 18 passing yards and 8 rushing on eight attempts. Fullback Isaac Ruoss ran for 73 yards on 22 attempts for Navy (2-7).
The Fighting Irish outgained the Midshipmen 430-184.
Navy kicker Bijan Nichols connected on a 49-yard field goal with 3:03 left in the opening quarter after consecutive sacks on first and second down lengthened the distance. The Midshipmen appeared to have control when it forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing drive, with John Marshall sacking Coan on fourth-and-four from the Navy 19.
The Fighting Irish managed a 24-yard field goal by Jonathan Doerer on the next drive, then forced a three-and-out. With 2:46 left in the half, Williams became the first player to find the end zone with a 1-yard run at the end of an 11-play drive, making it 10-3.
Notre Dame forced another three-and-out to fit in a five-play, 95-yard before halftime. After Williams runs of 10 and 12 yards, Coan aired it out to Austin down the left sideline for a 70-yard touchdown in the final minute of the half.
The Midshipmen opened the third quarter with a 14-play, 71-yard drive that chewed up 9:36 of game time, but settled for Nichols’ 21-yard field goal.
Early in the fourth, Notre Dame pinned Navy at its 1-yard line on a Jay Bramblett punt. Two plays later, Arline attempted an option pitch to his running back in the end zone but the ball hit the turf. He landed on it, absorbing a safety and avoiding an Irish touchdown.
Leading 19-6, Notre Dame poured it on with another stellar drive. Williams scored a 20-yard touchdown on a run that included two cuts, a juke and a spin move to slide through the defense. He fumbled at the 1 but recovered the ball in the end zone, and on a rollout Coan tossed a completion to Braden Lenzy for a two-point conversion.
Freshman Logan Diggs added a late 8-yard rushing score.
The Irish played without midseason All-American safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) for the second straight game. Receiver Avery Davis suffered a left knee injury during the fourth.
–Field Level Media
