Notre Dame Is Thankful for Air Force’s Wishbone

Notre Dame’s Derrick Mayes caught two touchdown passes and set up another score Saturday as the Irish defeated Air Force, 42-30, ending the Falcons’ seven-game winning streak.

Ray Zellars, playing his second game since an ankle sprain against Stanford on Oct. 1, rushed for two touchdowns for the Irish (6-4).

Mayes’ two touchdown catches gave him 11 for the season, a school record.

The victory kept alive bowl prospects for Notre Dame, which must finish with seven wins for a guaranteed spot in either the Orange, Sugar, Cotton or Fiesta bowls. The Irish (6-4) visit USC next Saturday.

Air Force (7-4) scored four touchdowns in the second half with its wishbone offense, but couldn’t overcome the 28-3 lead that Notre Dame built at halftime, helped by several Falcon miscues.

Air Force Coach Fisher DeBerry blamed some of his team’s problems on a wet field, which caused several players to lose their footing, and stopped at least one Falcon drive.

“The track benefited their style of play better then it benefited ours,” DeBerry said.

“If I had put that much water on my lawn at home, my wife would have fired me.”

“Gimme a break,” Holtz replied.