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The Honolulu Advertiser


Associated Press

Posted on: Sunday, November 8, 2009

Navy sinks No. 19 Notre Dame, 23-21

 • Stanford stuns No. 7 Oregon
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo, left, reacts with safety Emmett Merchant following a turnover by Notre Dame during the third quarter.

DARRON CUMMINGS | Associated Press

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Navy's second consecutive victory at Notre Dame Stadium didn't produce the same euphoria for the Midshipmen as the last one.

Just another win as far as Navy was concerned — though this loss to the Midshipmen was much more costly for Notre Dame.

Craig Schaefer sacked Jimmy Clausen in the end zone with 60 seconds left yesterday and Navy held on for a 23-21 victory, its second in three seasons against the 19th-ranked Fighting Irish.

"I wanted to run on the field and jump up and down, but I was kind of tired," said linebacker Ram Vela, who had an interception and fumble recovery. "We'd done it before and we went into this game not really placing as much emphasis or too much importance on it. We just treated it like another game."

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, a Radford High and University of Hawai'i alum, said he believed media speculation about Notre Dame chasing a BCS berth, along with the Irish (6-3) playing at No. 14 Pittsburgh (8-1) next week, helped the Midshipmen.

"We kind of felt like we had them in a perfect storm. Just looking to the postseason, a very, very good Pitt team coming next week, and it's us coming," he said.

Notre Dame (6-3) scored with 24 seconds left on a 31-yard pass from Jimmy Clausen to Golden Tate, and Nick Tausch kicked the PAT to cut the lead to two, but the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds.

Clausen was 37 of 57 passing for 452 yards, all career highs.

NO. 21 ARIZONA 48, WASHINGTON STATE 7

TUCSON, Ariz. — Travis Cobb returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to set the tone for Arizona and the Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10) scored the first seven times they had the ball in rolling past the Cougars (1-8, 0-6).

Arizona led 34-0 at the half, then William "Bug" Wright returned a punt 86 yards for a score the first time the Wildcats touched it in the third quarter. Washington State lost to visiting Hawai'i, 38-20, Sept. 12.

NO. 24 WISCONSIN 31, INDIANA 28

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — John Clay ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, Montee Ball scored two TDs and the Badgers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) made a 24-14 halftime lead stand up in beating the Hoosiers (4-6, 1-5).

Indiana twice got within a field goal in the fourth quarter. Terrance Turner's 6-yard TD catch made it 24-21 and after Ball scored on a 3-yard run to make it 31-21, Indiana's Trea Burgess answered with a 2-yard TD run with 4:02 left. Wisconsin plays at Hawai'i Dec. 5.

TEXAS STATE 27, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 24

CONWAY, Ark. — Bradley George threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Darius Bolden with 27 seconds remaining as the Bobcats (6-3, 4-1 Southland) edged the Bears (5-4, 2-3), who took a 24-20 lead on Brent Grimes' 2-yard TD run with 1:40 left.

The Bears' defense couldn't hold, though, and Texas State drove 50 yards on eight plays for the winning score. Central Arkansas lost to Hawaii, 25-20, Sept. 4

UNLV 35, COLORADO STATE 16

LAS VEGAS — Quarterback Omar Clayton ran 28 yards for a touchdown and also threw a 17-yard scoring pass for a 14-7 halftime lead to help the Rebels (4-6, 2-4 Mountain West) keep their bowl hopes alive, while ending the Rams' (3-7, 0-6) postseason chances.

UNLV, which beat Hawai'i, 34-33, Sept. 19, needs to beat Air Force on the road and San Diego State at home, to earn bowl eligibility.

FRESNO STATE 31, IDAHO 21

MOSCOW, Idaho — Ryan Mathews ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bulldogs (6-3, 5-1) raced to a 24-0 first-half lead before holding off a late surge by the Vandals (7-3, 4-2).

Fresno State beat Hawai'i, 42-17, Oct. 10, while Idaho beat Hawai'i, 35-23, Oct. 17.