SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — In a display of overwhelming offensive firepower and defensive dominance, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish routed the Navy Midshipmen 49 to 10 on Saturday before a crowd of 77,622 at Notre Dame Stadium.

The victory, which improved Notre Dame’s record to 7-2, was a comprehensive team effort, but it was quarterback CJ Carr who provided the early spark. The Saline, Michigan, native was surgical, completing 13 of 16 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, setting the tone for a game that was effectively decided by halftime.

Notre Dame set the pace on its opening drive. After a quick three-and-out forced by the Navy defense, the Fighting Irish offense found its rhythm. Carr connected with receiver Malachi Fields on a 52-yard deep strike that put Notre Dame in the red zone. The drive was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Jaden Love, giving the home team a 7 to 0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Navy, however, demonstrated its trademark resilience. The Midshipmen responded with a methodical, clock-chewing drive that spanned the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Quarterback Braxton Woodson of Altamonte Springs, Florida, was the engine of the option attack, repeatedly gasping the Irish defense on the ground. The 15-play, 80-yard march culminated in Woodson powering into the end zone from 2 yards out, tying the game at 7.

The Midshipmen’s momentum was short-lived. Notre Dame’s defense stiffened, and the offense began to operate with ruthless efficiency. Carr engineered a swift 88-yard scoring drive, mixing passes to Fields and Jordan Faison before Love scored his second rushing touchdown of the day from 2 yards out, putting the Irish back in front 14 to 7.

After forcing another Navy punt, Carr went back to work. He marched the Fighting Irish 68 yards in just over two minutes, finishing the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Faison with 1:42 remaining in the half. The score extended Notre Dame’s lead to 21 to 7.

Navy managed a late push before the break. A spectacular 41-yard scramble by Woodson set up the Midshipmen in field goal range, and Nathan Kirkwood converted from 33 yards as time expired in the half, cutting the deficit to 21 to 10.

Any hope of a Navy comeback was extinguished in a devastating third quarter where Notre Dame scored 21 unanswered points. The Irish needed just three plays to find the end zone on their first possession of the second half, with Love breaking free for a 48-yard touchdown run.

On the ensuing drive, Carr delivered the knockout blow. On the first play from scrimmage after a Navy punt, he launched a 34-yard touchdown pass to KK Smith, stretching the lead to 35 to 10.

The Irish defense, which had been stout all afternoon, continued to smother Navy’s triple-option offense. Linebackers Jaiden Ausberry, Drayk Bowen, and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa were constantly around the ball, combining for 18 tackles. Ausberry, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, led the unit with eight tackles, including a sack.

Notre Dame’s final score of the third quarter came on another precise Carr pass, this time a 4-yard connection with tight end Ty Washington, making it 42 to 10.

With the game in hand, backup quarterback Kenny Minchey of Hendersonville, Tennessee, took over in the fourth quarter. Minchey was efficient, completing all three of his pass attempts for 35 yards and adding a 13-yard run. He handed the ball off to Aneyas Williams, who put the final exclamation point on the victory with a 54-yard touchdown sprint, bringing the score to its final margin of 49 to 10.

For Navy, the offense lived and died with Woodson’s legs. He rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, but the passing game was ineffective, managing just 22 yards through the air. The Midshipmen’s defense was led by linebacker Coleman Cauley and safety Giuseppe Sessi, who recorded eight and seven tackles, respectively.

The loss drops Navy to 7-2 on the season, snapping a two-game winning streak. Both teams now hold identical 7-2 records as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

The game defied pregame projections from Interstat, which had given Notre Dame a 97.7 percent probability to win but projected a closer 34-19 final score. Navy, installed as a 27.5-point underdog, failed to cover the spread as Notre Dame’s offensive explosion proved too much. The total score of 59 points went over the betting line of 55.5.

Notre Dame travels to face Pittsburgh next Saturday, while Navy returns home to host South Florida.