Gutierrez Scores Six Touchdowns as Navy Holds Off Temple, 42-35

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.

Coach Newsberry

Navy head coach Brian Newberry summed up the afternoon following the victory.

“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.

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.

Navy’s Strong First Half Not Enough as Notre Dame Pulls Away for 35-13 Victory

The Navy Midshipmen gave fifth-ranked Notre Dame everything it could handle in the first half, but the Fighting Irish scored 28 unanswered points to defeat Navy 35-13 on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Navy controlled the football for much of the opening half and held a 13-7 lead late in the second quarter before Notre Dame took control of the game.

The Midshipmen rushed for 212 yards against one of the nation's top defenses and scored on their first three possessions. However, Navy struggled offensively in the second half, gaining just 56 total yards while Notre Dame pulled away for its seventh victory of the season.

Navy wasted no time establishing its ground game. On the opening possession, the Midshipmen put together an impressive 14-play, 44-yard drive that consumed 8:17 off the clock. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez converted a critical fourth-and-three to keep the drive alive before freshman kicker Nolan Bartley connected on a career-long 38-yard field goal, giving Navy an early 3-0 lead.

Notre Dame responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive of its own. Quarterback CJ Carr connected with Micah Gilbert on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:47 remaining in the first quarter, putting the Fighting Irish ahead 7-3.

The Midshipmen continued to control the football in the second quarter. Gutierrez appeared to break loose for a 64-yard touchdown run early in the period, but a holding penalty brought the play back.

Despite the setback, Navy continued moving the football on a 16-play, 66-yard drive that consumed 8:43 off the clock. Bartley capped the possession with a 26-yard field goal, cutting Notre Dame's lead to 7-6 with 8:04 remaining in the first half.

Navy's defense then stepped up, forcing Notre Dame into a three-and-out and giving the Midshipmen another opportunity to take the lead.

Starting at their own 37-yard line, Navy marched 63 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by a 17-yard pass from Gutierrez to Luke Hutchison that moved the football to the Notre Dame 3-yard line. Gutierrez finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, putting Navy ahead 13-7 with just 1:52 remaining before halftime.

Unfortunately for the Midshipmen, Notre Dame needed just 50 seconds to regain the lead. Running back Nolan James Jr. broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run with 55 seconds remaining, giving the Fighting Irish a 14-13 advantage heading into halftime.

The Midshipmen had controlled possession for 23:33 in the first half, limiting Notre Dame's opportunities while consistently moving the ball on the ground.

The second half was a different story.

Notre Dame received the opening kickoff and put together an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive. Running back Jonaz Walton capped the possession with a 3-yard touchdown run, extending the Fighting Irish lead to 21-13 with 9:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Navy struggled to find the same offensive rhythm it had established in the first half. The Midshipmen went three-and-out on their opening possession of the second half, giving Notre Dame another opportunity to increase its lead.

The Fighting Irish took advantage, marching 69 yards in seven plays. James scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a 23-yard run, pushing Notre Dame's advantage to 28-13 with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter.

Navy attempted to respond on its next possession, but the drive stalled near midfield when Gutierrez was stopped on a fourth-and-two attempt at the Navy 43-yard line.

Notre Dame quickly capitalized on the excellent field position. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Carr connected with Jerome Bettis Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown pass, increasing the Fighting Irish lead to 35-13.

The Midshipmen were unable to generate another scoring opportunity as Notre Dame controlled the clock throughout much of the final quarter to secure the victory.

Gutierrez led Navy's offense, finishing with 110 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. It marked his fourth consecutive game rushing for more than 100 yards. He also completed 4 of 7 passes for 25 yards.

Michael Barrow contributed 65 rushing yards on 11 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. Vic Listorti added 23 rushing yards, while Jadyn Jones finished with 16.

Navy finished with 212 rushing yards on 48 carries, an impressive accomplishment against a Notre Dame defense that entered the contest ranked third nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 67.3 yards per game.

However, the Midshipmen struggled through the air, completing just 5 of 9 passes for 33 yards. Navy finished the afternoon with 245 total yards while controlling possession for 32:40.

Penalties also proved costly for Navy. The Midshipmen were flagged eight times for 86 yards compared to just two penalties for 25 yards by Notre Dame.

Defensively, senior safety Giuseppe Sessi and linebacker MarcAnthony Parker led the Midshipmen with eight tackles apiece. Parker also recorded a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Aaron Rose and Nolan McCamy contributed seven tackles each, while Aiden Lyczek added six.

For Notre Dame, James finished with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Bettis led the Fighting Irish receivers with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Notre Dame finished with 426 yards of total offense, including 204 rushing yards and 222 yards through the air.

With the defeat, Navy falls to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the American Conference. Notre Dame improves to 7-1 and extends its winning streak against the Midshipmen to nine consecutive games.

Navy returns home next Saturday, November 7, to face American Conference opponent Temple at 3:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame will host Miami next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium.

Navy’s Comeback Falls Short in 49-39 Loss to North Texas

On a sunny Homecoming afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Navy Midshipmen put together another impressive offensive performance, but two costly touchdowns by North Texas' defense and special teams proved too much to overcome. Despite rushing for 363 yards and piling up 506 yards of total offense, Navy fell to North Texas 49-39 on Saturday.

The Midshipmen battled back from an 18-point deficit to pull within three points in the fourth quarter, but North Texas answered with a long touchdown run to put the game out of reach.

North Texas wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Quarterback Tayven Jackson connected with Justin Stevenson on a 45-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter to give the Mean Green an early 7-0 lead.

Navy responded with an impressive 11-play, 61-yard drive, but the offense stalled inside the North Texas 15-yard line. Nolan Bartley connected on a 31-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

The Mean Green added another touchdown late in the opening quarter when Jackson found Kyle Koch for a 5-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead to 14-3.

Navy's offense began finding its rhythm in the second quarter. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown run, bringing the Midshipmen within four points at 14-10.

North Texas quickly answered as running back Jahiem White scored from three yards out, increasing the lead to 21-10.

The Mean Green delivered one of the biggest plays of the afternoon when Dalton Carnes returned a Navy punt 76 yards for a touchdown, extending the advantage to 28-10 with 4:22 remaining in the first half.

The Midshipmen refused to go away. Navy put together a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took just over four minutes off the clock. Gutierrez finished the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run with only 11 seconds remaining, sending Navy into halftime trailing 28-17.

The third quarter brought another costly mistake for the Midshipmen. With Navy driving into North Texas territory, Stefan Egbe fumbled the football, and linebacker Zakye Barker recovered it and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score increased the Mean Green's lead to 35-17.

Navy answered immediately with another impressive offensive drive. Gutierrez broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run, his third rushing touchdown of the game. The Midshipmen successfully converted the two-point attempt when Gutierrez connected with Jake Norris, cutting the deficit to 35-25.

North Texas continued to make big plays through the air. Jackson found Stevenson for a 53-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead back to 42-25.

Navy's defense provided a much-needed opportunity late in the third quarter when senior cornerback Ira Oniha intercepted Jackson near midfield.

The Midshipmen capitalized on the turnover. Gutierrez connected with tight end Merrick Barlow for a 23-yard gain before finding Michael Barrow for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The score brought Navy within 10 points, 42-32, heading into the final quarter.

Navy's defense then forced a North Texas punt, giving the Midshipmen another opportunity to close the gap.

Gutierrez sparked the ensuing drive with a 33-yard run, helping Navy move 83 yards in seven plays. Barrow capped the possession with a 4-yard touchdown run, pulling the Midshipmen within three points at 42-39 with 10:49 remaining.

However, Navy's momentum was short-lived. Just over a minute later, White broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run, extending the North Texas lead to 49-39.

The Midshipmen were unable to score on their next possession, and North Texas controlled the football for the final 6:32 to secure the victory.

Gutierrez turned in another outstanding individual performance, rushing for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. He also completed 7 of 10 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Barrow contributed 95 rushing yards on 21 carries and scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air. Barlow finished with two receptions for 64 yards, including a 41-yard catch.

Despite the loss, Navy controlled several important statistical categories. The Midshipmen finished with 30 first downs compared to 21 for North Texas and held the football for 37:31, nearly 15 minutes longer than the Mean Green.

Defensively, Coleman Cauley and Aiden Lyczek led Navy with nine tackles each. Will Miller and MarcAnthony Parker added eight tackles apiece, while Nolan McCamy recorded seven tackles, including a sack. Oniha contributed the Midshipmen's lone interception.

For North Texas, Jackson completed 17 of 23 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Stevenson was his favorite target, finishing with eight receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. White added 174 rushing yards on 20 carries and scored twice.

Although Navy's offense moved the ball consistently throughout the afternoon, the Midshipmen were unable to overcome the two non-offensive touchdowns and several explosive plays by North Texas.

With the defeat, Navy falls to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the American Conference. North Texas improves to 5-2 overall and remains unbeaten in conference play at 3-0.

Navy will face Notre Dame next Saturday, October 31, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with kickoff scheduled for noon. North Texas returns home to host Florida Atlantic on Thursday, October 29.

Steelers Bring Navy’s Eli Heidenreich Home in Seventh Round

The closing rounds of the NFL Draft are usually about finding overlooked talent. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the selection of Eli Heidenreich carried an additional layer of meaning.

Pittsburgh used the 230th overall pick in the seventh round to select the versatile Naval Academy standout, bringing the Pittsburgh native back to the city where his football career began. Heidenreich, who attended Mt. Lebanon High School, joins the Steelers after establishing himself as one of Navy’s most productive offensive weapons.

Used as both a runner and receiver, Heidenreich completed his college career with 109 receptions for 1,994 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,157 yards and seven scores, production that reflected his ability to contribute from multiple positions rather than fit into one traditional role.

That flexibility could become his clearest path to earning a place in Pittsburgh. Heidenreich can carry the ball, work from the slot and compete on special teams—valuable qualities for a late-round prospect attempting to prove he belongs on an NFL roster.

The destination made the moment especially meaningful for Heidenreich.

“I was born and raised a Steelers fan,” Heidenreich said. “The chance for me to go and put on that uniform and contribute to that team is unbelievable.”

Sentiment alone will not determine what happens next. Like every seventh-round selection, Heidenreich will enter the NFL facing competition and few guarantees. But his production at Navy, positional versatility and willingness to take on different assignments give Pittsburgh an intriguing developmental player.

The Steelers did more than add another name to their draft class. They gave a hometown prospect the opportunity to earn his place with the team he once watched from the stands.

Midshipmen Edge Black Knights to Keep Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in Annapolis

Navy edged Army 17–16 on Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, claiming the 126th meeting between the two service academies in front of a crowd of 70,936. The win secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the Midshipmen for a second straight year, something the program had not accomplished since the 2012–13 seasons.

Navy struck first with a methodical opening drive that set the tone for a fast-moving first quarter, which lasted just 25 minutes. Quarterback Blake Horvath capped a 13-play, 75-yard march with a 5-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter to give Navy a 7–0 lead.

Army responded early in the second quarter behind quarterback Cale Hellums, who finished the day with 100 rushing yards on 25 carries. Hellums capped Army’s own 13-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7–7. Army added two Dawson Jones field goals before halftime, including a 45-yard kick as time expired, to take a 13–7 lead into the break.

Brian Newberry

“Wasn't the prettiest today, a lot of mistakes, a couple of turnovers, some missed opportunities,” Navy head coach Brian Newberry said. “But really, really proud of our guys for finding a way, being down at halftime. They kept battling and found a way to get it done in the end.”

Army continued to control field position coming out of halftime, extending its lead to 16–7 with a 48-yard Jones field goal early in the third quarter. Navy answered late in the period with a 21-yard field goal by Nathan Kirkwood after a 13-play drive that trimmed the deficit to six.

Despite a pair of early turnovers, Horvath settled in and kept Navy within reach. “Blake didn’t play his best game,” Newberry said. “Had a couple misreads early on, a couple turnovers and some missed throws, but the kid is special. Just doesn’t faze him one bit.”

Blake Horvath

That composure showed in the fourth quarter. Horvath led a nine-play, 50-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining. The catch gave Heidenreich 72 receiving yards on the day and pushed his season total to 837, breaking a Navy receiving record that had stood since 1967.

Navy’s defense sealed the win from there, holding Army scoreless in the fourth quarter and forcing a late punt before running out the clock. The Midshipmen finished with 190 rushing yards, led by Horvath’s 107 on the ground, while Army totaled 120 rushing yards and controlled possession for long stretches.

“You need your seniors to have big moments in games like this,” Newberry said. “It’s a special senior class. They’ve worked their tails off, and this group is going to leave a legacy behind.”

The victory gave Navy its first back-to-back 10-win seasons in school history and kept the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in Annapolis for another year. “The only bad thing about this game is that somebody has to sing first,” Newberry said afterward. “I think anybody watching that game, if you're American, you're super proud of what you saw on the football field.”

Navy (10-2) will now turn its attention to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Cincinnati on January 2, while Army (6-6) faces Connecticut in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on December 27.