Full service loss for Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Air Force did Navy one better against Notre Dame.

A week after the Midshipmen eked out a triple overtime victory against the Fighting Irish for the first time since 1963, Air Force beat Notre Dame, 41-24, for its worst loss to a service academy since that Navy win 44 years ago.

“It’s special for this program, this football team, to the seniors,” Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney said. “To come into a hostile environment and get a victory against a good football team is something we needed and something that we’ll always remember.”

Carney threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Chad Hall ran for 142 yards and had 272 all-purpose yards for Air Force (8-3). The Falcons scored three straight touchdowns after Notre Dame (1-9) tied the score at 10-10, and the Irish didn’t get any closer than two touchdowns the rest of the way.

“Winning here, against Notre Dame, it’s big,” Hall said.

The loss was a school-record ninth for the Irish. Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum said it’s hard to believe how poorly this season has gone.

“I really just don’t know what happened,” he said. “It’s happening, but I just think it’s a dream and I’m going to wake up some day.”

Air Force linebacker John Rabold returned a fumble 19 yards for a touchdown and Ryan Harrison kicked two field goals.

“I thought it was a complete team effort,” Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun said. “That’s really the way we’ve played here over these last six or seven games. That’s the way at the Air Force Academy you have to play.”