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  • Navy Midshipmen Shutout Memphis In The Second Half, Beating The Tigers, 28-17

Navy Midshipmen Shutout Memphis In The Second Half, Beating The Tigers, 28-17

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Football

(BCSNN) — Navy leaned on its defense and ground game to secure a 28–17 victory over Memphis on Tuesday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The win improved the Midshipmen to 9–2 overall and 7–1 in the American Athletic Conference, clinching at least a share of the regular season title.

Running back Alex Tecza rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Blake Horvath added 100 passing yards and 54 rushing yards with a score. Navy’s defense pitched a second-half shutout, holding Memphis to just 58 yards after halftime.

Memphis struck first with a 31-yard field goal by Gianni Spetic, aided by a Navy penalty that extended the drive. The Midshipmen answered in the second quarter when Horvath rolled right and pitched forward to Kendall Evans for a three-yard touchdown — Evans’ first career catch.

The Tigers responded with a 75-yard drive capped by Brendon Lewis’ one-yard touchdown pass to Matt Adcock. Navy regained the lead on Tecza’s four-yard run following a 46-yard catch by Eli Heidenreich and a 22-yard scramble by Horvath.

Memphis briefly went back in front, 17–14, on Lewis’ 38-yard touchdown pass to Cortez Braham Jr., who hauled in the deflected ball. The Tigers carried that lead into halftime after Spetic missed a field goal attempt in the closing seconds.

Navy opened the second half with an 18-play, 69-yard drive that consumed more than 10 minutes, but a fumbled snap at the goal line ended the threat. The defense quickly responded with a three-and-out, and Tecza later broke free for a 12-yard touchdown run to put Navy ahead 21–17 late in the third quarter.

The Midshipmen sealed the win with another clock-chewing drive, marching 73 yards in 13 plays over 8:19. Horvath capped the possession with a two-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28–17.

Navy’s defense dominated the second half, recording five sacks and six tackles for loss. Luke Pirris tallied a career-high two sacks, while Landon Robinson nearly forced a safety. The performance marked the first time in 52 games that Memphis was held under 20 points.

With the win, Navy awaits the outcomes of North Texas–Temple and Tulane–Charlotte later this week to determine its place in the AAC Championship Game. The Midshipmen will qualify if either North Texas or Tulane loses, and would host the title game if both fall.