Notre Dame football: Irish avoid Navy upset bid

SOUTH BEND

One defensive stand was enough.

Just enough.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter came down to Notre Dame (7-2) finally stopping Navy (4-4) with 1:08 left in the game to preserve a 38-34 Irish victory Saturday night.

The two teams wore ruts in the Notre Dame Stadium turf, combining for nearly 1,000 yards of offense.

It really got wild as the fourth quarter began.

Keenan Reynolds scored his third touchdown of the day on the first play of the quarter to give Navy a 27-24 advantage.

A couple of minutes later, the Irish responded with a 76-yard touchdown drive that ended with a four-yard run by Cam McDaniel to take the lead, 31-27.

Four minutes later it was Navy's turn. Seventy yards; seven plays - a PASS, 34 yards from Reynolds to Matt Aiken, Navy's up 34-31.

Notre Dame got its chance. The Irish traveled 76 yards on 11 plays. Freshman running back Tarean Folston accrued 45 yards on the march, including a one-yard TD leap that put the Irish back on top, 38-34.