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Navy Tops Notre Dame in South Bend as Staubach Sets Record

Nov. 2, 1963 - A beautiful bright rainbow arched over Notre Dame’s famed Golden Dome just before game time, but Navy beat the Fighting Irish to the pot of gold with a 35-14 victory in South Bend, Ind., today. Quarterback Roger Staubach set a new Naval Academy total offense record for one season while passing for two touchdowns and fullback Pat Donnelly and end Gary Kellner each scored twice as the fourth-ranked Middies boosted their record to 6-1. It was the fourth loss in six games for the Irish, who went to the dressing room at halftime with a 7-7 deadlock before being destroyed by a 21-point broadside by Navy in the third period. A standing-room-only audience of 59,362 saw the Sailors rack up the most points they’ve ever scored against Notre Dame in the 37-year history of the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in collegiate football. Staubach’s 114 yards — 91 passing and 23 rushing — brought his year’s work to 1,420 yards, surpassing the previous mark of 1,348 established by George Welsh in 1955. Donnelly, the crew-cut line-buster from Maumee, Ohio, had his best afternoon of the season. He rolled up 127 yards on the ground, including a 41-yard touchdown jaunt, and caught 3 passes, which included an 8-yard scoring toss from Staubach. Kellner, too, turned in a fine day’s effort. One of Staubach’s most dependable pass receivers, Kellner made only one grab today, but it was for the 3-yard pass from Staubach that put Navy on the board on the first play of the second period. And the 6-foot senior from Northampton, Pa., alertly intercepted Frank Budka’s pass and glided 8 yards for the Middies’ fourth TD, as the highlight of an outstanding defensive performance at end.

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