Backup quarterback Braxton Woodson ran for 103 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Alex Tecza added 126 rushing yards with two TDs and Navy upset No. 24 South Florida 41-38 on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.
The Midshipmen (8-2, 6-1 American) tightened their grip on the conference lead, drawing closer to a berth in the championship game despite starting quarterback Blake Horvath leaving a second-half shootout with an apparent right leg issue.
Slotback Eli Heidenreich finished with five catches for 146 yards and broke Navy’s career receiving yards record.
Byrum Brown powered South Florida (7-3, 4-2) with 327 yards and two touchdowns through the air plus 136 rushing yards and two more scores.
Both of Brown’s rushing touchdowns came after halftime, the latter a QB draw that turned into a 60-yard sprint. That cut South Florida’s deficit to 27-24 with 13:59 to go following a two-point conversion pass to Mudia Reuben.
Horvath had briefly left in the third quarter after trainers stretched his leg out. Woodson replaced him for good in the fourth; he completed a 32-yard throw to Heidenreich before rambling in from 20 yards to make it 34-24 with 9:29 left.
Just 3:15 later, the Bulls executed a double pass, and running back Nykahi Davenport hooked up with Jeremiah Koger (nine catches, 112 yards) for a 29-yard touchdown. But Nico Gramatica’s point-after attempt hit the left upright, leaving it a four-point game.
Woodson kept it on a zone read and raced down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown to make it 41-30 with 3:59 to play.
South Florida responded as Reuben caught a short pass and made multiple tacklers miss on a 41-yard scamper to the end zone. Again, the Bulls converted a two-point attempt to claw within three at the 1:55 mark.
But the Midshipmen recovered their onside kick attempt and bled out the clock. Horvath returned for the final possession.
Tecza broke free for a 76-yard TD run to put the Midshipmen on the board on their first possession. South Florida answered with Gramatica’s chip-shot field goal.
Brandon Chatman ran it in from 4 yards away for a 14-3 lead at the end of the first.
Brown found Keshaun Singleton for a 12-yard TD on the next drive, but the two-point attempt was overthrown.
Tecza tacked on a 14-yard TD reception, and two plays from scrimmage later, Brown tossed an interception to Phillip Hamilton who returned into the red zone. Nathan Kirkwood’s field goal gave Navy a 24-9 lead at halftime.
–Field Level Media
