HOLY WARS

A look at the past 10 games in the Notre Dame-Crespi rivalry:

1996

Notre Dame 28, Crespi 25

Justin Fargas rushed for 215 yards and scored three touchdowns, including runs of 75 and 47 yards, to give the Knights three consecutive victories over the Celts for the first time. Crespi stayed close behind the passing of quarterback Nick Rita, but an interception by David Escobar with 1:25 to play snuffed the Celts’ last chance.

1995

Notre Dame 27, Crespi 14

The Knights got an emotional boost from wide receiver Nick Kounalis, who returned from a broken arm and caught a touchdown pass in the first half. “Nick got his cast off Wednesday and came out and played with a lot of heart,” said quarterback Ryan Bowne, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for another.

1994

Notre Dame 34, Crespi 24

A 46-yard field goal by Chris Sailer, now the kicker and punter for UCLA, broke a 17-17 halftime tie and started the Knights on a 17-point third quarter. Bowne passed for two touchdowns in the decisive quarter, the first set up by an interception by Troy Garner, now a backup receiver for USC.

1993

Crespi 21, Notre Dame 10

Shaun Williams rushed for 142 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown, but it was the Celts’ opportunistic defense that saved the day. Crespi twice recovered fumbles in the second half after Notre Dame had driven inside the Celt 10-yard line. Another Notre Dame fumble led to a Crespi TD in the first quarter.

1992

Crespi 17, Notre Dame 14

In the first nonleague meeting between the schools, Crespi rallied for 10 points in the final seven minutes and won on Bach Stabile’s 30-yard field goal with 2:42 left. Mike Zele set up the score with an interception at the Knight 35, following a Celt touchdown pass from Matt Walker to Wayne Emerson.

1991

Notre Dame 41, Crespi 37

The Knights secured their first victory over Crespi since 1984 when Daniel Guerrido intercepted a pass at the Notre Dame eight with eight seconds to play. The turnover spoiled an otherwise superb effort by Crespi quarterback Cody Smith, who passed for 370 yards and four touchdowns and nearly rallied the Celts from a 41-30 deficit in the last two minutes. The loss denied Crespi a perfect Mission League season.

1990

Crespi 21, Notre Dame 10

Smith, wearing a flak jacket to protect a bruised kidney and bruised ribs suffered the previous week, punished the Knights with two touchdown passes on successive possessions in the fourth quarter. His 59-yard scoring play to Ryan Kieling on third and 15 proved the game-winner as the series resumed after a two-year “cooling off” period.

1987

Crespi 52, Notre Dame 14

“It’s fun to compete against the best,” Kevin Rooney said after his team’s shellacking. Fun? Crespi, ranked ninth in the nation by USA Today, spotted Notre Dame a quick touchdown before Russell White got rolling. The junior rushed for 145 yards and four touchdowns in the last Del Rey League meeting between the teams.

1986

Crespi 41, Notre Dame 3

As if the Celts needed more motivation, they became incensed after someone burned “N.D.” into the field at Crespi. “I saw it and got a little tingly in my legs,” Crespi linebacker Sean Howard said. The Celts then trampled Notre Dame, with White rushing for 210 yards and four touchdowns before being benched early in the third quarter.

1985

Crespi 22, Notre Dame 15

Notre Dame’s John Denz was stopped on a fourth-and-goal sneak from the one with 36 seconds to play, although the quarterback wasn’t convinced. “I’m sure the ball broke the plane of the goal line,” Denz said. Crespi, ending a two-game losing streak against the Knights, took the lead for good on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Randy Redell, son of Coach Bill Redell, to John Carpenter with 9:12 left.

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The Series

Year-by-year results of the Notre Dame-Crespi rivalry

* 1973--Crespi, 6-0

* 1974--Crespi, 26-0

* 1975--Crespi, 12-5

* 1976--Crespi, 19-9

* 1977--Crespi, 39-9

* 1978--Notre Dame, 44-6

* 1979--Notre Dame, 34-18

* 1980--Crespi, 43-7

* 1981--Crespi, 21-7

* 1982--Crespi, 21-7

* 1983--Notre Dame, 23-0

* 1984--Notre Dame, 28-12

* 1985--Crespi, 22-15

* 1986--Crespi, 41-3

* 1987--Crespi, 52-14

* 1990--Crespi, 21-10

* 1991--Notre Dame, 41-37

* 1992--Crespi, 17-14

* 1993--Crespi, 21-10

* 1994--Notre Dame, 34-24

* 1995--Notre Dame, 27-14

* 1996--Notre Dame, 28-25