In a high-scoring battle, unranked Navy shocked No. 24 South Florida with a 41-38 victory, proving that rankings don’t always predict the outcome. From the opening whistle, Navy came out firing, using explosive plays to seize control early.
Alex Tecza ignited the Midshipmen’s offense with a stunning 76-yard touchdown run, giving Navy an early 7–3 lead. South Florida responded with a field goal, but Navy quickly reasserted itself with an 82-yard pass to Eli Heidenreich, setting up a short 4-yard rushing touchdown by Blake Chatman to extend the lead to 14-3.
South Florida fought back in the second quarter as quarterback Byrum Brown connected with Khafre Brown for a 12-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 14-9. But Navy answered with a precise 14-yard touchdown pass and a 44-yard field goal, heading into halftime with a 24–9 advantage. Navy’s combination of big plays and efficient passing left South Florida’s defense struggling, as Navy amassed 291 yards compared to South Florida’s 251.
The second half brought renewed energy from South Florida. Led by Byrum Brown, the Bulls orchestrated a quick, efficient four-play, 68-yard scoring drive capped by Brown’s 3-yard rushing touchdown, cutting Navy’s lead to 24–16. Navy responded with a field goal, but Brown wasn’t finished. He burst for a 60-yard rushing touchdown and completed a two-point conversion, tightening the score to 27-24.
The teams then traded touchdowns in a back-and-forth affair. Navy’s eight-play drive included a 32-yard reception by Heidenreich and a 20-yard rushing touchdown by Blake Woodson, extending the lead to 34–24. South Florida answered with an 11-play drive highlighted by a 19-yard catch from Willie Sullivan and a 29-yard pass to Koger, keeping the Bulls within striking distance at 34-30.
With under four minutes remaining, Woodson scored a massive 64-yard touchdown for Navy, pushing the lead to 41–30. South Florida responded quickly with a 41-yard reception by M. Reuben and a successful two-point conversion, narrowing the deficit to 41-38 with 1:54 remaining. Ultimately, Navy held on for the thrilling win.
Byrum Brown finished with 22 completions on 31 attempts for two passing touchdowns and one interception, while rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Navy’s Blake Horvath contributed 147 passing yards on 8-of-15 attempts, adding 126 rushing yards and a touchdown. The game featured over 1,000 total yards of offense, showcasing the explosive firepower of both teams.
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