SOUTH BEND. Ind.--Kevin Stepherson caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, including a 9-yard TD pass from Brandon Wimbush that put Notre Dame up for good, as No. 9 Notre Dame (9-2) hung on to beat Navy (6-4), 24-17, in front of 77,622 at Notre Dame Stadium.

Navy had taken a 10-3 lead with 1:08 left in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Zach Abey, but the Navy defense allowed Notre Dame to drive 62 yards in 1:00 minute to tie the score at 10 right before the half. The Mids were hurt by a dropped interception by Tyris Wooten at the two-yard line and then on third down a pass interference call on Wooten in the end zone.

Navy took the second half kickoff and drained 7:59 off the clock as Zach Abey threw a 12-yard TD pass to Craig Scott to cap a 15-play drive and give Navy a 17-10 lead.

Notre Dame came back to tie it on the ensuing drive as the Irish moved 78 yards in 1:28 with Wimbush hitting Stepherson with a 30-yard TD pass and then after a Navy punt, Wimbush hit Stepherson wiht the game-winner.

Navy had two more chances to tie the score, but Abey's pass was intercepted on a first and 10 play from the Notre Dame 36 and then on the final drive of the game, Darryl Bonner's halfback pass on fourth down came up short as Tyler Carmona slipped and fell on the wet surface.

Anthony Gargiulo and Abey led the Mids in rushing with 87 yards, with Abey scoring a touchdown. Abey completed three of his six pass attempts for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Josh Adams led the Irish with 106 yards rushing, while Wimbush completed nine of his 18 pass attempts for 164 yards and two touchdowns.