ANNAPOLIS, Md. —With five American Conference teams entering the weekend carrying just one league loss, Saturday’s matchup in Annapolis was billed as a separator. Navy and USF lived up to that hype, delivering a back-and-forth offensive showcase that ended with the Midshipmen holding on for a 41–38 victory.
Navy wasted no time seizing momentum. On the game’s opening possession, Alex Tecza burst free for a 76-yard touchdown — the longest run of his career — giving the Midshipmen an early 7–0 lead. Senior USF quarterback Byrum Brown answered with a composed drive that resulted in a field goal to trim the score to 7–3.
The Midshipmen struck again moments later, this time through the air. Quarterback Blake Horvath launched a career-long 82-yard strike to star receiver Eli Heidenreich, who was dragged down at the four-yard line. The catch pushed Heidenreich into the top spot on Navy’s all-time receiving yardage list. On the next snap, Brandon Chapman punched in a four-yard touchdown to make it 14–3. By the end of the first quarter, Tecza had already surpassed 100 rushing yards.
USF opened the second quarter with a five-play, 75-yard march capped by a Brown touchdown pass, though the Bulls’ two-point attempt failed, leaving Navy ahead 14–9. The Midshipmen responded immediately with another five-play, 75-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 14-yard touchdown reception from Tecza to stretch the lead to 21–9.
Navy’s defense joined the action with an interception that set up a 44-yard field goal by Nathan Kirkwood, extending the lead to 24–9 late in the half.
After a quiet start to the third quarter, Brown again ignited the Bulls’ offense with a three-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 24–16 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter erupted with offense from both sides. Navy opened the frame with a field goal to go up 27–16, but Brown answered instantly with a breathtaking 75-yard touchdown run. After a successful two-point conversion, the Bulls were suddenly within 27–24.
Disaster struck for Navy when Horvath left the game with an injury, but junior quarterback Braxton Woodson entered and delivered on his first big moment — a 20-yard touchdown run that rebuilt Navy’s lead to 34–24 with nine minutes remaining.
USF wasn’t done. Running back Jeremiah Koger executed a perfectly timed double-pass, connecting with NyKahi Davenport for a 29-yard touchdown. The missed extra point, however, kept the score at 34–30.
Woodson answered again with the play of the game: a 64-yard sprint to the end zone that pushed Navy ahead 41–30 with four minutes to go. USF found the end zone once more and converted the two-point attempt, but Navy bled the remaining clock to secure a share of first place in the tightly contested American Conference.
Next up, Navy heads to Memphis for a pivotal matchup with the second-place Tigers, while USF travels to UAB.
Final: Navy 41, USF 38
