ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida sun provided no warmth for Navy's beleaguered football team yesterday.
Unable to generate any offensive heat until it was far too late, the winless Midshipmen gift-wrapped two first-half touchdowns for 20th-ranked Notre Dame, fell hopelessly behind and suffered their sixth defeat of this dreary season, 45-14, before 47,291 at the Citrus Bowl.
Notre Dame's easy victory extended its NCAA-record winning streak against Navy to 37 and boosted the Irish's overall edge in this lopsided series to 64-9-1. Navy also has dropped 30 straight games to ranked teams since 1985.
There was no suspense about the eventual outcome after Tony Driver twice turned Navy miscues into Irish touchdowns before the first quarter had expired. Considering that the Midshipmen entered the game last in total offense and scoring among all NCAA Division I-A teams, a 21-0 cushion seemed very comfortable for Notre Dame.
It was. Notre Dame (4-2) was already cruising with a 38-0 lead before Navy struck for two fourth-period scoring passes - its first points via the air initiated by a quarterback all season-- and two extra points to achieve its highest point total in a single game. The Midshipmen have now scored 53 points overall.
Driver, a senior free safety, struck first less than six minutes into the game after an exchange of punts. Fullback Raheem Lambert fumbled at the Navy 24, Driver scooped up the ball, made a quick spin move and then sped into the end zone.
"Somebody made a hit on the ball [linebacker Tyreo Harrison]," said Driver. "The defense put me into position. I would have been upset with myself if I didn't take it to the house."
Two series later, the Irish scored in a more conventional manner, covering 68 yards in nine plays with freshman quarterback Matt LoVecchio completing two key passes, the second a 32-yard gainer on a tight end screen to Jabari Holloway. Tailback Julius Jones did the rest of the work from the Navy 20, leaping over the assemblage for the final yard to boost the lead to 14-0.
Back came Driver for an encore. On the second play of Navy's ensuing drive, quarterback Ed Malinowski's pitch to Terence Coleman went awry, bounced into the air and Driver picked off the bobble and sashayed to "the house" again.
Navy's option offense is poorly equipped to overcome huge deficits and it has not been functioning well all season. The Midshipmen had seven possessions of three plays or fewer yesterday, raising their season total to 32 (more than 43 percent).
Coach Charlie Weatherbie again rotated quarterbacks Malinowski and Brian Broadwater without much noticeable difference. The only scoring opportunity for the Midshipmen in the first half came after an interception by Chris Lepore and a 22-yard return. David Hills tried a 46-yard field goal on the final play before intermission, but it sailed wide.
Navy scored with 11:11 left in the game on a 46-yard connection from Malinowski to Brian Rampani when some young Notre Dame reserves left him wide-open, and on a 9-yarder to Brian Williams after the Malinowski-Rampani combination had chewed up 61 yards to the Irish 19 in a similar lost-and-found situation.
"I was disappointed that we gave up those two touchdowns at the end," said Irish coach Bob Davie. "They hadn't played consistently enough and were a little shocked. They left a couple of wide receivers completely alone."
The game was devoid of the suspense and late excitement of last season's 28-24 Irish victory in South Bend, Ind.
Notre Dame dominated all the statistical categories, committed only the one turnover for a national-low total of four over six games and still did not lose a fumble (zero for 2000). The majority of Navy's 188 yards passing came on those late flings to Rampani against inexperienced defensive backs.
But the longest intersectional rivalry in the nation will continue - to return to South Bend next season.
"It's a challenge," said Weatherbie. "When you come to the Naval Academy, one of the things players like is playing teams like Notre Dame. Maybe that's why some of them come."
"I think we can beat them," said Lepore. "One of the things I hate is when people give the other team too much credit. You want to play against the best and Notre Dame is always one of the best."
NOTES: Navy's players wore black anchors on the backs of their helmets in memory of the sailors killed and injured aboard the USS Cole last week in Yemen. The coaching staff and support personnel wore black ribbons and there was a moment of silence before the game. ... The schools played an exhibition lacrosse game at Disney's Wide World of Sports on Friday with Notre Dame winning, 9-8. They went on to play six quarters without keeping additional score.
Notre Dame 21 3 7 14 - 45
Navy 0 0 0 14 - 14
Next for Navy
Opponent: Rutgers
Site: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
When: Saturday, noon
Record: 2-4
Yesterday: Lost to Temple, 48-14.
