WATCH: Braden Lenzy makes incredible highlight-reel touchdown catch vs Navy
The Notre Dame offense got off and running fast in Saturday’s showdown against Navy. Braden Lenzy got in on the fun in a big way in the first quarter, too.
Lenzy caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Drew Pyne and used a Midshipmen defender’s back to hold onto it. It was an incredible catch to put the Fighting Irish ahead 14-0 with 4:28 to play in the quarter.
ABC’s Dan Orlovsky had some high praise for it, too, calling it one of the best catches he’s ever seen during the broadcast.
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Lenzy entered Saturday’s game with 128 receiving yards and a touchdown through nine games this year. In the first quarter alone against Navy, he had four receptions for 67 yards and that wild touchdown catch.
Notre Dame is trying to build off a season-defining win over then-No. 4 Clemson last week at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish came in at No. 20 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and wasted no time getting started against Navy.
Marcus Freeman shares his history with Navy to prepare Notre Dame team
When Marcus Freeman was the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, he got an up-close look at Navy and its triple-option offense. It was quite the wake-up call, too.
“We gave up 569 yards rushing vs. Navy in 2017 when I was at Cincinnati,” Freeman recalled. “That will be a number that I’ll never forget. It was a long day.”
Now the head coach at Notre Dame, Freeman is gearing up to lead the Fighting Irish against the Midshipmen on Saturday — and he’s learned a few things since that 2017 game. He’s planning to use his experience against his former conference rival to help the Fighting Irish build off last week’s win over Clemson and, ideally, control the triple option.