11/9/2002 - Football
Notre Dame 30, Navy 23

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Carlyle Holiday's 67-yard touchdown pass to

Omar Jenkins with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter lifted ninth-ranked Notre

Dame to a 30-23 comeback win over Navy. The Fighting Irish (9-1) battled from

an eight-point deficit in the final quarter to beat the Midshipmen (1-8) for

the 39th straight time.

Vontez Duff returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown for Notre Dame, which

was beaten last week at home by Boston College. The Fighting Irish haven't

lost to Navy since 1963, but the Midshipmen came close after holding the lead

through most of the fourth quarter.

Navy, which didn't play last week, lost its eighth straight game and has

fallen 34 straight times to a ranked opponent. The last win for the Midshipmen

over a ranked team was September 20, 1985 over Virginia.

Notre Dame came into the game ranked seventh nationally against the run,

allowing 84.6 yards per game, but surrendered over 200 yards to Navy.

Nevertheless, the Irish pulled the game out with a late touchdown.

The first play following a Navy punt, Holiday aired the ball out to Jenkins,

who made the catch on the right side of the field behind three defenders and

raced to the end zone.

Free safety Glenn Earl then picked off Aaron Polanco with 1:35 left, but Navy

got the ball back. However, Polanco was intercepted by linebacker Courtney

Watson with 31 seconds left.

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto was in the game for the first five plays before

spraining his left ankle. Polanco took over the rest of the way and ran for

two scores.

11/09 15:44:14 ET

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