Nov. 17, 2001

Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Photo Gallery

Notre Dame vs. Navy
Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)

• Notre Dame claimed its 38th consecutive win over Navy, extending an NCAA record for the most consecutive victories against one opponent in college football history.

• The Irish notched their 65th win in 75 career meetings with Navy, the most victories against one opponent in school history.

• Notre Dame improved to 27-1 in its last 28 games against the service academies (7-0 in the Bob Davie era).

• The Irish raised their record at Notre Dame Stadium against service academies to 41-7 all-time (5-0 under Davie).

• Notre Dame moved to 18-7 in the month of November since 1995 (12-6 under Davie).

• Since 1984, the Irish are now 19-2 in regular-season games following a regularly-scheduled bye week (7-0 under Davie).

• Today’s stadium-record attendance of 80,795 represents the 161st consecutive sellout in Notre Dame Stadium and 209th home sellout in the last 210 games (dating back to 1964). Additionally, it marks the eighth time in nine games this season in which the Irish have played before a stadium-record crowd.

• Notre Dame matched its season high with 34 points today. The Irish also tallied 34 points in its win over West Virginia last month.

• Notre Dame also scored its 2,000th career point against Navy when Terrance Howard scored on an eight-yard run in the third quarter. The Irish have tallied 2,015 points in 75 games against the Midshipmen, the most against one opponent in school history.

• The 30 combined points in the first half matched a season-high for a Notre Dame game (also done against Nebraska in the season opener). The 17 points scored by the Irish in the opening half equalled their highest first-half output of the year – they also tallied 17 points in the opening 30 minutes against West Virginia.

• With his 41-yard field goal in the first quarter, junior PK Nicholas Setta now has made at least one FG in 11 consecutive regular-season games, tying the school record held by John Carney in 1986. Setta later kicked a 32-yard field goal and has made 12-of-13 field goals this season, including all seven of his tries from 40 yards or more.

• Setta also extended his streak of consecutive PAT made to 51 (19-19 this season), continuing the fourth-longest run in school history. He needs two more to catch Mike Johnston (53) for the No. 3 spot on the Irish all-time list. Setta has not missed a PAT since Oct. 7, 2000, when he misfired against Stanford.

• Junior SS Gerome Sapp picked up the first touchdown of his career when he returned a Navy fumble 39 yards for a score in the first quarter. It is the third time Notre Dame has returned a first-period fumble for a TD in its last two games with the Midshipmen. In last year’s 45-14 Irish win at the Citrus Bowl, Tony Driver became the second player in NCAA history to take two fumbles back for scores.

• Sapp’s touchdown was the second defensive score by the Irish in as many games. Against Tennessee, junior LB Courtney Watson returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown to give Notre Dame a 10-7 third-quarter lead.

• Sapp later added a second fumble recovery in the second quarter, becoming the first Notre Dame defender since Driver (vs. Navy) to corral two fumbles in the same game.

• Junior TB Julius Jones rushed for a season-high 117 yards, including a season-long 44-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. It is the fifth 100-yard rushing day of Jones’ career.

• Senior TB Terrance Howard rushed for a season-high 54 yards and scored two touchdowns. It’s the second two-TD game of Howard’s career – he also found the end zone twice at Rutgers last season.

• Senior FB Tom Lopienski’s 33-yard run in the third quarter was the longest of his career. His previous long carry was 12 yards against Oklahoma in 1999. Lopienski finished with a career-high 36 yards rushing, topping his previous best of 20 yards against USC, also in 1999.

• Freshman wide receiver Carlos Campbell logged his first career reception in the second quarter, hauling in a 32-yard pass from Carlyle Holiday.

• Sophomore split end Ronnie Rodamer also collected his first career reception with a seven-yard catch in the second quarter.

• In his last three games, senior TE John Owens has caught four passes for 61 yards and one touchdown. Owens is a converted defensive lineman who had not caught a pass in his career prior to this season.

• Junior TE Gary Godsey hauled in his first career reception with a 26-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He added a 24-yard catch later in the fourth period.

• Senior FB Mike McNair carried five times for 15 yards, the first rushes of his Irish career.