With the Irish up 20 points with six minutes to go in 4th and a torrential down pour happening in Baltimore, Charlie Weis put his backups into the game.

The Irish offense was still clicking as they moved inside the Navy 10 yard line. But Jonas Gray fumbled and the Irish failed to put the Midshipmen away.

That's when Navy almost engineered one of the greatest comebacks in college football history scoring two touchdowns and recovering two onside kicks in the final two minutes, actually having the ball with a chance to take the lead in the final minute.

But a 4th and 13 pass went incomplete and Notre Dame survived 27-21, snapping a 2-game losing streak and avenging a 3-overtime loss to Navy in 2007.

The Irish are now 6-4 and are bowl eligible.

But the sigh of relief from the ND Nation will likely turn sorrow quick based on the way Charlie Weis' team played down the stretch.

To make matters worse, the Irish lost standout freshman receiver Michael Floyd on the 3rd play of the game to a knee injury. Sophomore Brian Smith also left the game with a knee injury in the 1st quarter. Initial evaluations indicate that both have sprained knees and will be re-evaluated when they return to South Bend.

Despite three turnovers from Jimmy Clausen in the 1st half, Notre Dame led 10-7 at the half.

The 3rd quarter was all Irish. Touchdown runs from Armando Allen and Robert Hughes pushed the lead to 24-7.

A Brandon Walker field goal made it to 27-7.

With just over four minutes left in the game, Navy marched down the field and Shun White's 24 yard touchdown run made it 27-14 with a 1:40 left in the game.

Navy kicker Matt Harmon then had a perfect onside kick that the Midshipmen recovered. The Irish seemed ill-prepared on their hands team.

Ricky Dobbs then threw a 40 yard pass to Tyree Barnes to the Irish 1 yard line. Dobbs rushed it in for a touchdown with 1:21 left to make it 27-21.

Harmon then had another great onside kick that Navy again recovered.

So the Midshipmen had the ball with a chance to win with a touchdown. Navy got to the ND 34 when Dobbs could complete a pass on 4th and 13 and the Irish survived for the win.

Last year, Navy snapped a 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a stunning three overtime win in South Bend. This win would have been
far more stunning.

Notre Dame returns home next Saturday to host Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium.