Air Force downs Notre Dame 41-24
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Air Force did Navy one better against Notre Dame.
Chad Hall rushed for 142 yards and Shaun Carney threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Falcons to a 41-24 victory on Saturday, the largest win by a service academy over the Irish in 44 years. It also was a school-record ninth loss for the Irish.
The Falcons (8-3) scored three straight touchdowns after Notre Dame (1-9) tied the score at 10 with 2:32 left in the second quarter. The Falcons needed just 83 seconds to regain the lead, driving 66 yards on seven plays and scoring on an 8-yard run by wide receiver Spencer Armstrong.
In the third quarter Carney threw a 7-yard TD pass to wide-open Sean Quintana in the end zone and an 8-yard TD pass to tight end Keith Madsen to make it 31-10. He scored on a 1-yard keeper to close out the scoring in the fourth quarter.
It was the largest margin of victory for Air Force in six wins over the Irish, and the most lopsided loss by Notre Dame to a military academy since a 35-14 defeat by Navy in 1963.
The loss came a week after Navy's 46-44 win in triple overtime, marking the first time since 1944 the Irish lost to two military academies in the same season. That season No. 2 Notre Dame lost to sixth-ranked Navy 32-13 on Nov. 4, then lost 59-0 to top-ranked Army a week later. Both games were at neutral sites.
Just like against Navy a week earlier, runners repeatedly ran through Notre Dame tackles and the Irish were gashed for big plays on pitches to the outside. The Falcons rushed for 285 yards.
Air Force, which strengthened a bid for its first bowl berth since 2002, improved to 8-0 this season when it has a 100-yard rusher. Hall, who rushed for an Air Force record 275 yards a week ago, had 32 carries, two catches for 31 yards and 99 yards on kickoff returns.
Carney was 10-of-16 passing for 120 yards.
Notre Dame's offensive line continued a season-long struggle, giving up six sacks. Air Force repeatedly pressured Jimmy Clausen, once with just two rushers.
Making his first start after sitting for two games, Clausen was 22-of-40 for a career-high 246 yards. He threw three touchdown passes after throwing just one in seven previous games, six of them starts.
Both of Air Force's first two scores came off of Notre Dame mistakes. On the first play of the game, Clausen completed a 28-yard pass to John Carlson, who fumbled when hit by safety Bobby Giannini. Linebacker Chamberlain Herndon recovered and the Falcons eventually scored on a field goal.
Air Force went ahead 10-0 when Notre Dame fullback Asaph Schwapp was hit and the ball popped in the air. Linebacker John Rabold caught it and went 19 yards for a touchdown. Ryan Harrison kicked field goals of 19 and 37 yards for the Falcons.
The Irish, who were held to 58 yards rushing, had lost eight games in a season twice before, going 2-8 in 1956 and 1960.
It was also the school-record sixth straight home loss. Notre Dame could finish the season winless at home if it doesn't beat Duke next week. The only other times that has happened were in 1887 (0-1), 1918 (0-0-1) and 1933 (0-3-1).
The loss dropped coach Charlie Weis' career record to 20-15. His predecessor, Tyrone Willingham, was fired after three seasons with a 21-15 record.