Notre Dame Runs Past Army

Saturday, November 12

San Antonio, Texas

3:30 PM

Army West Point

5-5

Notre Dame

4-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

ARMY

Notre Dame

November 12, 2016 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Story in Photos Postgame Notes (PDF)Postgame Quotes (PDF)Highlights

SAN ANTONIO – The Army West Point football team dropped a tough 44-6 decision to Notre Dame here Saturday afternoon at The Alamodome.

The contest was part of Notre Dame's Shamrock Series and 45,762 fans came out to watch the neutral site game.

The Irish started their scoring early by returning the opening kickoff 92-yards for the 7-0 lead. Two more touchdowns in the first quarter for the designated home team created a 21-0 hole for the Black Knights.

Army would eventually get on the scoreboard a little less than 45 seconds in the second quarter when Kell Walker rushed for his second-career touchdown. Unfortunately, that would be all the Irish would allow as Notre Dame closed out the contest with 21 unanswered points.

The Irish racked up 476 total yards of offense to Army's 242. That was the most yardage allowed by the Black Knights all season.

Darnell Woolfolk finished with a career-best 95 yards on the ground to lead Army, while Jordan Asberry finished with 54, which was two yards shy of his career best.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Saturday's game was Army's first visit to The Alamodome since 2005 when the Black Knights took on Texas A&M.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series at 39-8-4.
The Black Knights wore helmet stickers for the 1st Cavalry Division.
Attendance at The Alamodome was 45,762, which was the largest crowd Army has played in front of all season.
With Xavier Moss' red zone interception at the 3:37 mark of the third quarter, it handed the senior his second career pick. Army has now forced a turnover in all 10 games this season.
The Black Knights have recorded 13 interceptions on the year.
Army matched its season-low in points with six. The Black Knights also finished with six points in a 13-6 loss at Duke back on Oct. 8.
Notre Dame posted 31 first downs to Army's 10.
The Black Knights were also slightly outrushed at 261-229.
Army was just 3-of-11 on third-down conversions, while Notre Dame went 10-for-13.
Moss recorded a team-best 13 tackles, with Andrew King coming in a close second with 10.

CAREER MILESTONES

Jaxson Deaton made his first career start at left guard for the Black Knights. The first-year has seen action in eight of Army's 10 games so far.
Cole Macek registered his first career start at the fullback position.
Woolfolk posted a career-high 95 rushing yards, surpassing his previous high of 71 against Texas-El Paso.
Jaylon McClinton earned a career-high nine tackles.
Jermaine Adams punted a career-high four times for 158 yards with his long being a 49-yarder, which was also a career best.
Moss posted a career-best 13 tackles, including six solo stops and his second career interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Fighting Irish wasted little time and jumped out in front as they returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for the score and the early 7-0 lead.
Notre Dame tacked on another seven when DeShone Kizer completed a 37-yard pass to Kevin Stepherson at the 10-minute mark of the opening period.
With 3:44 remaining in the first quarter, Notre Dame made it 21-0 after a two-yard rush from Josh Adams completed an eight play, 44-yard drive.
Army cut into the deficit early in the second period when Walker finished off a two-yard run. The nine play, 63-yard drive was highlighted by Asberry's 37-yard rush, which put the Black Knights into good field position in the red zone. The point after from Mitchell Howard was just wide. That kick was Howard's first game action since sustaining an ankle injury during the Buffalo game back on Sept. 24.
Notre Dame answered when Kizer found a wide-open Durham Smythe for a 10-yard touchdown reception. The Irish ate up 4:40 off the clock during their nine play, 71-yard drive.
The Black Knights stopped the Irish short of a first down deep in their own territory much in part to a great tackle by McClinton. Notre Dame settled for a 27-yard field goal to extend its lead to 31-6 with 3:39 remaining in the opening period.
Notre Dame ended the half with one final touchdown with 37 seconds left to play, increasing its advantage to 38-6 at the break. Kizer threw for his third score of the game when he again teamed up with Smythe for a 31-yard completion. During that drive, the Irish converted on a 4th-and-2 opportunity at Army's 40, which kept their offense out on the field.
Right after an 18-yard Black Knights' punt put the Irish in good field position at the Army 37-yard line, Notre Dame finished off a five play, 37-yard drive following another rushing touchdown. This time it was Tarean Folston who found the back of the end zone with the 4-yard run. The point after was wide left.

UP NEXT

The Black Knights are back home in the comfy confines of Michie Stadium on Nov. 19 when Morgan State comes to West Point. That contest is slated for a noon start and will be carried on CBS Sports Network with Ben Holden, Jay Feely and John Schriffen on the call. It will also be senior day for 17 cadets.