Backup Quarterback, Pinkett Lead Notre Dame Over Navy

Sophomore quarterback Terry Andrysiak knew he wasn’t going to start, but he prepared himself all week to face Navy. It paid off Saturday in Notre Dame’s 41-17 blowout of the Midshipmen.

Andrysiak took over for Steve Beuerlein late in the first quarter and directed Notre Dame on three successive touchdown drives.

Notre Dame Coach Gerry Faust had planned all along to use Andrysiak despite starting Beuerlein, who had not practiced until Thursday because of a bruised shoulder.

“Steve Beuerlein is our starting quarterback,” Faust said. “Both kids knew what the situation was before the game. We told Terry he would go in on our third or fourth possession.”

Andrysiak had plenty of support on offense from Allen Pinkett, who scored three touchdowns and set up another with a 43-yard run. Pinkett rushed 27 times for 161 yards and recorded his 20th regular-season 100-yard game and his fourth in four seasons against Navy.

But Pinkett lost two fumbles, and Navy’s Napolean McCallum, who rushed for 124 yards in 24 carries, lost three fumbles.

The Midshipmen failed on a fourth-and-four gamble in the second quarter with the score tied, 7-7. Notre Dame took over and drove for a touchdown.

Andrysiak completed his first five passes, giving him 10 straight completions in a span of three games to tie an Irish record set by Angelo Bertelli in 1942 and equaled by Joe Montana in 1978.

Andrysiak also completed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown in the fourth quarter. He hit on 11 of 17 passes for 195 yards as Notre Dame made it 22 straight victories over the Midshipmen dating back to 1963.

The victory was the third straight for Notre Dame (4-3). Navy dropped to 3-5.