COLLEGE FOOTBALL; The Fighting Irish Avoid A Last-Second Shocker

Notre Dame 21, Navy 17

Even Navy gave Notre Dame all it could handle.

The Middies, who have lost a National Collegiate Athletic Association-record 34 consecutive games to Notre Dame, finished 1 yard short of the upset yesterday, losing, 21-17, to the Irish in South Bend, Ind.

Navy (3-4) had a chance to win in the final seconds. Chris McCoy hit Pat McGrew with a 69-yard pass, but Irish cornerback Allen Rossum pushed him out of bounds at the 1-yard line as time ran out. Navy tackle David Viger threw his helmet down on the field, and it appeared to smash apart.

Notre Dame running back Autry Denson, who briefly left the game with a bruised right knee, ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns, including a 5-yard touchdown run that gave the Irish (4-5) a 21-17 lead with 5 minutes 48 seconds to play.

The Middies were booed off the field when Coach Charlie Weatherbie brought them to midfield for a team prayer -- right in the midst of the Notre Dame band, which was playing its traditional post-game concert.

Notre Dame's Irish Guard walked out to where the Middies were gathered, but Navy calmly left the field about a minute later.

Michigan 24, Minnesota 3

Charles Woodson scored on a 33-yard reverse and headed a defensive unit that limited Minnesota to 102 yards as Michigan beat the Gophers in Ann Arbor, Mich.