Associated Press
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ó Austin Davis threw for two touchdowns, including a school record 97-yarder to DeAndre Brown, and Southern Mississippi defeated East Carolina 21-3 on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (5-6, 3-4 Conference USA) won their third consecutive game and ended East Carolina’s three-game winning streak. Southern Miss, which lost five straight games earlier this season, needs a win over Southern Methodist in its final regular season game on Nov. 29 to become bowl eligible.
The Pirates (6-4, 4-2) also failed to clinch at least a share of the Conference USA East title and their first trip to the league title game.
East Carolina took a 3-0 lead early in the quarter on Ben Hartman’s 32-yard field goal. Hartman, who came from North Davidson, also missed a pair of field goals in the first half.
Notre Dame 27, Navy 21
BALTIMORE, Md. ó Nothing comes easy for Charlie Weis and Notre Dame these days.
A year after the Fighting Irish had their record 43-game winning streak against Navy snapped, Notre Dame had to withstand a frenetic rally by the Midshipmen in the final minute and a half to win 27-21.
It seemed appropriate, though, that a tense week for college football’s most storied program would end with a tense ending against Navy (6-4).
The Midshipmen trailed 27-7 when Shun White broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run that seemed as if it would provide little more than window dressing with 1:39 left.
A recovery and an onsides kick gave Navy another score. Pat Kuntz’s sack keyed another late defensive stand, and Notre Dame (6-4) could finally rest.
Northwestern 21, Michigan 14
ANN ARBOR, Mich. ó Michigan sank to an all-time low on a day as miserable as its season.
C.J. Bacher threw touchdown passes on his first two drives of the second half to lift Northwestern to a 21-14 win Saturday over the Wolverines, handing them eight losses overall and five at home for the first time in the storied program’s 129-year history.
College football’s winningest program had already sealed its first losing season since 1967 and snapped a 33-season bowl streak.
The latest loss guaranteed the Wolverines (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten) would fail to win consecutive games for the first time since 1962 in Rodriguez’s debut season.
Coastal Caorlina 21, PC 13
CLINTON, S.C. ó Zach MacDowall scored two touchdowns to help Coastal Carolina hold off Presbyterian 21-13 on Saturday as coach David Bennett prevailed over his alma mater.
MacDowall was 14 of 22 for 128 yards and one touchdown, adding 27 rushing yards and another score for the Chanticleers (6-5). Coastal Carolina outgained the Blue Hose (4-7) 374-328, but capitalized on three turnovers.
Marist 24, Davidson 19
DAVIDSON ó Obozua Ehikioya rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns to lead Marist to a 24-19 win against Davidson.
Davidson (3-7) totaled 261 yards on the ground, but committed three turnovers.
N.C. Central 23, Winston-Salem 16
DURHAM ó Brandon Gilbert’s three field goals were the difference in North Carolina Central’s 23-16 win against Winston-Salem.
Gilbert’s field goals of 45, 28 and 34 yards ó the last of which pushed the margin of victory to seven points ó was the difference in a game in which the Eagles (3-7) gained 154 total yards. The Eagles had two turnovers, but capitalized on two interceptions and two fumbles by the Rams (3-7).