A come-from-behind victory at Navy was good enough to keep Notre Dame at No. 9 in the Associated Press poll released Sunday.
A loss likely would have ended the Irish’s Bowl Championship Series hopes.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction,” said Irish quarterback Carlyle Holiday, who threw for a career-high 272 yards on 13-of-21 passing in the 30-23 triumph.
“It just shows that we can throw the ball. And when it’s needed in crunch time, the passing game is going to be there.”
“It’s almost like teaching a youngster how to walk–step, step, balance, fall,” offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick said.
“And then all of a sudden they take that one step and they take another one and then, heck, pretty soon they’re running, or at least waddling fast.”
The Irish are off until a Nov. 23 home game against Rutgers.
Avani Patel.
ILLINOIS
Harris will be ready to run vs. Buckeyes
Illinois, which had lost three running backs in the last three weeks to injury, survived a scare Saturday.
Tailback Antoineo Harris tumbled over a retaining fence and landed on his back after trying to tackle Wisconsin linebacker Alex Lewis on Lewis’ 52-yard return of a recovered fumble.
Harris lay on the concrete until team trainers told him he could get up and move.
“It seems like there’s a trend with our running backs,” said Harris, who stayed in the game.
“When I was sitting on the ground I said to myself, `I hope this isn’t bad because the team needs me.'”
Harris’ left thigh was bruised on the play.
He had an ice pack on it after the game but is expected to be at full strength this week against Ohio State.
Harris had 40 carries for 158 yards, giving him 2,705 for his career.
– Junior wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who strained his hip flexor and sat out the last three quarters, is fine and will play against the Buckeyes.
Gary Reinmuth.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Huskies now focusing on winning MAC West
With two Mid-American Conference games left, Northern Illinois didn’t celebrate Saturday’s upset of then-No. 20 Bowling Green too long.
The Huskies wanted to keep their focus on a conference title and a bowl berth after a 26-17 victory over the previously unbeaten Falcons.
Michael Turner, who rushed for 192 yards on 40 carries, said his ailing ankle will be well enough for him to play this week at Eastern Michigan.
“My ankle is fine,” Turner said. “I’m trying to win a championship.”
The Huskies received votes in the national rankings for the first time since 1989. NIU pulled four votes in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, tied for 36th.
After Eastern Michigan, Northern (6-3, 6-0 in the MAC West) will play host to Toledo in the regular-season finale.
Winners of the MAC East and West play for the league title.
The MAC is assured of berths in the Motor City Bowl and the GMAC Bowl.
– Dan Sheldon’s 80-yard punt return against Bowling Green lifted him to No. 1 in the nation with an average of 20.7 yards per return.
Bill Jauss.
NORTHWESTERN
Walker cautious about off-week plans
To rest or not to rest? That is the question for Northwestern, which is 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten with this week off.
But the Wildcats are also beat up mentally and physically as they wait to finish their season at home Nov. 23 against Illinois.
Wildcats coach Randy Walker plans to give his players Monday, Wednesday and Saturday off and to go easy with them on those days that they do practice.
“We’ve gone 11 straight weeks now,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of young players who’ve gotten pounded on pretty good.”
Skip Myslenski.
