Irish Grounded Against Air Force; Ninth Loss Most in ND History

By JEFF CARROLL, Tribune Staff Writer

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Irish Grounded Against Air Force; Ninth Loss Most in ND History

Air Force wide receiver Chad Hall, left, avoids the tackle of Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith as he rushes in the third quarter of college football action in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Air Force defeated Notre Dame 41-24. Hall rushed for 149 yard and had 31 receiving yards in the game. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 10, 2007 at 7:12 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 11, 2007 at 12:32 AM EST

(SBT24/7News) Yet another service academy can claim the 2007 Notre Dame football team as a trophy.

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A week after Navy ended its 43-game losing streak to the Irish in triple-overtime, Air Force came into Notre Dame Stadium and was able to keep the Irish at arm's length throughout the second half Saturday on the way to a 41-24 victory.

The loss dropped this year's Irish to 1-9. Overall, Notre Dame has now lost 11 of its last 12 games, dating back to last year's regular-season finale at USC. The Irish have lost six consecutive games at Notre Dame Stadium, extending the '07 team's record for home futility. The current Irish are also the first team in the history of the Notre Dame football program to lose nine games in a season. Overall, the loss was ND's fourth in a row since the season's lone victory at UCLA on Oct. 6.

Freshman Jimmy Clausen returned under center for the first time since sitting out the last two contests while Evan Sharpley got his chance to quarterback the Irish.

And he had to feel like nothing much had changed after he was sacked four times in the game's first three quarters, giving ND opponents 49 sacks this season, worst in the country in 2007 and by far the worst in Notre Dame football history.

Through three quarters, Air Force had outgained Notre Dame 353 yards to 160 yards. Air Force's Chad Hall had 110 yards on 21 carries entering the fourth quarter.

The Irish actually battled back for a time from a 10-0 first-half deficit. Brandon Walker's 28-yard field goal almost midway through the second quarter cut Air Force's advantage to 10-3. A few minutes later, with 2:32 to play in the half, Clausen connected on a 2-yard pass with tight end John Carlson to tie the score at 10 and give the Irish the game's momentum.

It would be short-lived, however, as wide receiver Spencer Armstrong scored on an 8-yard reverse run to give Air Force the 17-10 lead with just over a minute to play in the half.

The Falcons (8-3) put the game out of reach in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns. The Irish will host fellow 1-9 team Duke next Saturday before finishing the season at Stanford the following week.

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