Irish stuff Navy's final drive to secure win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Navy's triple-option offense had Notre Dame flummoxed and flailing for most of the game. In need of one stop with 68 seconds left in the fourth quarter, freshman linebacker Jaylon Smith -- with some help -- made the play the Fighting Irish so badly needed. Smith and Eilar Hardy combined to snuff out an end-around by Navy's Shawn Lynch on fourth-and-4 in Irish territory, and Notre Dame held on 38-34 Saturday. The Midshipmen ran for 331 yards, 207 in the first half. On Navy's final drive, it ran the ball four straight plays for 18 yards and had it second-and-5 from the Notre Dame 32. "It's a scenario you want. On the road at Notre Dame, driving to win the game. It doesn't get any better than that," Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds said. "It's a dream come true." Notre Dame's hopes of returning to the Top 25 and hopes for a BCS bowl berth appeared tenuous at best.