The Navy Midshipmen jumped out to a commanding 28-0 lead before surviving a furious second-half comeback by Temple to earn a 42-35 victory Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez turned in an outstanding performance, rushing for five touchdowns and throwing for another as Navy snapped its three-game losing streak.
The Midshipmen rushed for 317 yards and finished with 495 yards of total offense, but several costly mistakes allowed Temple to erase a 28-point deficit and tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Navy responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive to secure its third victory of the season.
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| Coach Newsberry |
“We made it a lot more difficult than we needed it to be.”
The Midshipmen wasted no time taking control. On the opening kickoff, Temple mishandled the football, and Navy's Gage Leonard recovered the fumble at the Owls' 23-yard line.
Navy took advantage of the excellent field position, putting together a six-play scoring drive. Michael Barrow moved the football to the Temple 1-yard line with a 9-yard run before Gutierrez scored on the following play, giving Navy an early 7-0 lead.
After Navy's defense forced a Temple punt, the Midshipmen struck quickly on their next possession. Gutierrez connected with tight end Jordan Collins for a 63-yard gain, moving the football to the Temple 7-yard line.
Gutierrez eventually scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on another 1-yard run, extending Navy's lead to 14-0 midway through the opening quarter.
Navy's defense continued to dominate. Senior safety Giuseppe Sessi intercepted Temple quarterback Jaxon Smolik late in the first quarter, ending an Owls drive in Navy territory.
The Midshipmen continued controlling the game in the second quarter. Starting at their own 35-yard line, Navy put together a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive that consumed 6:19 off the clock. Gutierrez capped the possession with his third 1-yard touchdown run, increasing the lead to 21-0.
Temple's offense continued to struggle against Navy's defensive front, which pressured Smolik throughout the first half.
Following another defensive stop, the Midshipmen put together a seven-play, 55-yard touchdown drive. Near the goal line, Barrow provided one of the afternoon's most memorable plays when he hurdled a Temple defender and landed on his feet, gaining three yards to the Owls' 6-yard line.
Barrow described the impressive leap following the game.
“I was thinking about it (leaping over a defender) on the bench. I was like, what was going through my mind. But I know when I got there, a big red button said jump. I just pressed, I believe and got up there and I was sort of shocked when I landed. I landed on my feet so it made it look way cooler.”
On the very next play, Gutierrez scored his fourth rushing touchdown from six yards out, giving Navy a commanding 28-0 lead with 1:14 remaining before halftime.
However, Temple finally got on the scoreboard on the final play of the half when Jojo Bermudez returned a Navy punt 78 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Midshipmen's lead to 28-7.
Despite allowing the special teams touchdown, Navy's defense had an impressive opening half, limiting Temple to just 37 yards of total offense and no offensive points.
“I thought we really played well on defense, especially in the first half,” Newberry said.
The second half brought a much different game.
Temple began its comeback early in the third quarter when Smolik connected with Bermudez for a 41-yard touchdown pass. The two-play scoring drive covered 48 yards and reduced Navy's advantage to 28-14.
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| Jackson Gutierrez |
Navy responded midway through the quarter with another explosive offensive play. Starting at its own 17-yard line, Gutierrez directed a five-play, 83-yard drive before finding Collins for a 49-yard touchdown pass.
The score gave Gutierrez his sixth touchdown of the afternoon and extended Navy's lead to 35-14 with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.
With a three-touchdown advantage entering the final period, the Midshipmen appeared to be in control. However, Temple had other plans.
Bermudez once again provided a spark for the Owls, returning a Navy punt 53 yards to the Midshipmen's 24-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Temple capitalized on the excellent field position as Smolik connected with Jayce Freeman for a 6-yard touchdown pass, cutting Navy's lead to 35-21 with 11:18 remaining.
The Midshipmen's next possession ended with another costly mistake when Gutierrez fumbled the football, giving Temple possession at the Navy 45-yard line.
The Owls took advantage of the turnover, marching 45 yards in five plays. Samuel Brown finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, pulling Temple within seven points at 35-28 with 7:43 remaining.
Navy struggled on its following possession and attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-seven. The play was unsuccessful, giving Temple the football at the Navy 28-yard line.
Three plays later, Smolik connected with Freeman for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Carl Hardin added the extra point, completing Temple's remarkable comeback and tying the game at 35-35 with 5:35 remaining.
After watching its 28-point lead disappear, Navy needed one more scoring drive.
The Midshipmen responded with one of their most important possessions of the season. Barrow opened the drive with a 9-yard run, and Navy steadily moved the football downfield.
Gutierrez delivered the biggest play of the possession when he broke loose for a 39-yard run, moving Navy to the Temple 14-yard line.
After another run by Barrow and a 9-yard gain by Gutierrez, the Midshipmen faced first-and-goal at the 4-yard line.
Gutierrez finished the nine-play, 75-yard drive with his fifth rushing touchdown of the afternoon, scoring from four yards out with just 1:14 remaining. Nolan Bartley's extra point gave Navy a 42-35 advantage.
The Midshipmen's defense made sure Temple would not have another comeback.
Navy pressured Smolik on the Owls' final possession, forcing three incomplete passes, including a fourth-down attempt that turned the football back over to the Midshipmen with 51 seconds remaining.
Gutierrez finished the afternoon with 180 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries, averaging six yards per attempt. He also completed 6 of 11 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, accounting for all six of Navy's touchdowns.
Barrow provided another strong performance in Navy's ground attack, rushing for 109 yards on 21 carries. He also added three receptions for 42 yards, finishing with 151 yards of total offense.
Collins was Navy's biggest receiving threat, finishing with two receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown, including catches of 63 and 49 yards.
The Midshipmen controlled several important statistical categories. Navy finished with 495 total yards compared to just 218 for Temple and held a commanding 40:46 to 19:14 advantage in time of possession.
Navy also recorded 23 first downs compared to nine for the Owls and scored touchdowns on all five of its red-zone opportunities.
Defensively, the Midshipmen limited Temple to just 45 rushing yards on 21 attempts and recorded three sacks.
Linebacker Nolan McCamy led Navy with seven tackles, including a sack. Coleman Cauley contributed four tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Sessi finished with four tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
For Temple, Smolik completed 12 of 26 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Freeman led the Owls with four receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
Bermudez was another standout for Temple, finishing with 159 punt return yards, including his 78-yard touchdown return, while adding 55 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Although the Midshipmen dominated much of the afternoon statistically, the mistakes and explosive special teams plays allowed Temple to remain in the game.
Newberry acknowledged the challenges of finishing games following the victory.
“Winning is hard and we seem to make it really, really hard on us at times. But glad to get a win.”
With the victory, Navy improves to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the American Conference. Temple falls to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Navy will have a bye next weekend before returning to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to host Memphis on Saturday, November 21, at noon. Temple returns home to face UAB next Saturday, November 14, at 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.
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