How it happened: Breaking down a dominant Notre Dame win over Navy

Reporters asked Sam Hartman the first three questions during Notre Dame’s postgame player press conference. The Irish had just finished up a 42-0 win over Navy.

Hartman answered the questions respectfully, deflecting credit to his teammates. After the third question, he motioned toward graduate linebacker Marist Liufau and freshman receiver Jaden Greathouse.

“You can ask these guys questions, too,” Hartman said.

While Hartman was justifiably the big story, he did have a point. Notre Dame’s season-opening win was a complete performance, with skill position players, the offensive line and all three levels of defense turning in A-grade performances.

Here’s how it happened.

First quarter: Notre Dame 14, Navy 0

Top Moment: Notre Dame talked about sophomore running back Jadarian Price’s burst throughout fall camp, a year after a ruptured Achilles tendon cost him his freshman season. On his first career carry, with a minute to go in the first quarter, Price showcased that burst and sprinted 19 yards for a touchdown.

Feature Performer: Notre Dame graduate linebacker Jack Kiser. Kiser was everywhere in the first quarter, picking up five of the team’s seven solo tackles. And with the Midshipmen driving and facing a fourth-and-three, it was Kiser who had the pressure on Navy quarterback Tai Lavatai.

Stats: The Irish out-gained the midshipmen 154 to 45. Notre Dame possessed the ball for 10:01 to Navy’s 4:59. 

Items: Notre Dame graduate quarterback Sam Hartman’s first pass in a Notre Dame uniform was a 19-yard completion to junior receiver Jayden Thomas. … junior RB Audric Estimé scored the first touchdown of the college football season from one yard out. … Notre Dame converted three of its four third-down attempts, including an 11-yard gain for Estimé on third-and-10. 

Second quarter: Irish 28, Midshipmen 0

Top Moment: Freshman receiver Jaden Greathouse gained a step on Navy safety Rayuan Lane up the seam. Hartman, who was hit as he threw, dropped a dime to Greathouse’s midsection inside the 5-yard line. Greathouse caught it, stayed on his feet through contact and scored his first career touchdown.

Featured Performer: Hartman. He was superb in the second quarter, completing nine of his 10 passes for 130 yards. In the first quarter, you said to yourself, ‘Huh, Hartman looks pretty good.’ In the second quarter, your jaw was on the floor.

Stats: Time of possession was even more lopsided than before, with Notre Dame controlling the ball for 11:26. The Irish outgained the Midshipmen 143 to 69.

Items: Ohio State graduate transfer Javontae Jean-Baptiste picked up his first two tackles and his first tackle for loss in a Notre Dame uniform. … Senior receiver Chris Tyree caught his first two passes at his new position for 22 yards. … Thomas caught Hartman’s second touchdown on a post near the goal line.

Third quarter: Notre Dame 35, Navy 0

Top Moment: Navy blitzed and Notre Dame didn’t pick it up. Hartman said, “I got you.” He sidestepped the extra rusher, who fell flat on his face trying to tackle him. Hartman scrambled to his left and fired it to a wide-open Greathouse for the freshman’s second touchdown of the day.

Feature Performer: Estimé. He sat most of the second quarter after fumbling to start Notre Dame’s second possession, but the Irish let him go to work in the third. Estimé carried five times for 42 yards, with none of his attempts going for fewer than six, and made a juggling catch through contact for another four.

Stats: Notre Dame averaged 6.92 yards per play to Navy’s 0.85. Navy failed to convert all four of its third-down attempts, but converted a fourth down. The Midshipmen fumbled twice but lost neither.

Items: Sophomore Vyper Joshua Burnham’s third-quarter sack, forced by pressure from junior DT Gabriel Rubio, was the first of his career and Notre Dame’s first of the season. … Navy lost 24 yards on one play after a botched snap. … graduate kicker Spencer Shrader’s first field goal attempt, from 42 yards, missed wide right.

Fourth quarter: Irish 42, Midshipmen 3

Top Moment: Hartman threw a tunnel screen to junior receiver Deion Colzie from the Navy 25-yard line. Colzie turned upfield, got a block from sophomore tight end Holden Staes, broke a tackle and he was gone. It was Hartman’s fourth touchdown pass of the day.

Feature Performer: Colzie. With the emergence of Greathouse and fellow freshman receiver Rico Flores Jr. with the second unit in practice, it looked like Colzie might get left behind. Not so. Colzie hauled in three receptions for 45 yards throughout the game, including that touchdown and an earlier contested catch.

Stats: Navy won the time of possession battle 8:21 to 6:39. The Irish outgained the Midshipmen 64-62.

Items: Notre Dame graduate nose tackle Howard Cross III made four tackles. … Navy avoided a shutout with a 31-yard Evan Warren field goal. … Flores caught his first pass in an Irish uniform for a two-yard gain. … Sophomore quarterback Steve Angeli entered the game for Notre Dame’s final possession, completing the one pass to Flores.