A win 44 years in the making

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It’s over. After 44 years and three overtimes.

Navy finally beat Notre Dame 46-44 in triple overtime on Saturday, ending the Fighting Irish’s NCAA-record winning streak against the Midshipmen at 43 games.

“It’s a big win for our program. It’s a big win for the academy,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “I’m happy I don’t have to answer anything else about the streak every time we play.”

Roger Staubach was quarterback for the Midshipmen in 1963 when they beat Notre Dame 35-14. Since then, the Irish have had their way – that is until Saturday.

Seven times during the streak the Midshipmen had chances to win in the fourth quarter only to be thwarted by bad luck, questionable calls or big plays by the Irish. A few times Saturday it looked as though the win would elude them again. But this time it was the Midshipmen who managed to make the decisive plays.

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada threw a 25-yard TD pass to Reggie Campbell on the first play of the third overtime, then found him again for the 2-point conversion.

Notre Dame (1-8) cut the lead to two on a 5-yard TD run by Travis Thomas. But after a pass interference call gave Notre Dame a second chance at the 2-point conversion, a contingent of Navy defenders tackled Thomas well short of the end zone on the final play.

“Honestly, this win hasn’t even hit me yet,” linebacker Matt Wimsatt said. “I can’t wait to talk to everybody back home. This is definitely bigger than just one football game.”

For Notre Dame, it was its school-record fifth straight home loss, another low point in a season of lows. Weis said the 43-game winning streak had no meaning to him or the team.

It is the first time the Irish have lost five at home in one season.

Gonzaga Prep graduate Chris Kuhar-Pitters, a senior defensive end, scored one of Navy’s touchdowns when he scooped up a fumble and ran it in from 16 yards out.