"First half didn't go great," said Navy head coach Brian Newberry. "We played lights out on defense, but we struggled a little bit to get anything going offensively. Couldn't be more proud of the way our guys rallied around our young quarterback, and couldn't be more proud of the way he played today. That was critical for him."
The first half was a defensive slugfest, with neither team able to find the end zone. Navy’s defense was relentless, stifling East Carolina’s rushing attack and keeping quarterback Katin Houser under constant pressure. Defensive lineman Landon Robinson notched a sack early in the first quarter, setting the tone for a Navy defense that would record four tackles for loss on the day.
East Carolina managed the only points of the half with a 35-yard field goal by Andrew Conrad midway through the second quarter. Navy’s offense, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball effectively, managing just 88 total yards and missing a 21-yard field goal attempt just before halftime.
"We knew coming in that stopping the run would be key," Newberry said. "Outside of the first two drives, we did a really good job of stopping the runner. We feel like if we could do that, keep things in front of us, then we'd have success on defense today."
The Midshipmen came out of the locker room with renewed energy. On their opening drive of the second half, Navy marched 76 yards on 14 plays, capped by a 16-yard touchdown run from Brandon Chatman. The nearly eight-minute drive showcased Navy's trademark efficiency and physicality.
After forcing a punt, Navy struck again late in the third quarter. Running back Eli Heidenreich broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run, extending Navy's lead to 14-3 heading into the final period.
East Carolina cut the deficit to 14-6 early in the fourth quarter with a 48-yard field goal, but Woodson and the Navy offense responded immediately. On the ensuing drive, Woodson connected with Nathan Kent on a 61-yard touchdown pass.
East Carolina’s offense came alive briefly, with Houser finding Winston Wright Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown to pull within 21-13. But Woodson silenced the home crowd with an electrifying 38-yard touchdown run on Navy's next possession, pushing the lead to 27-13. A late interception by linebacker Kyle Jacob set up Woodson's second rushing touchdown, a 10-yard score that sealed the victory.
East Carolina added a late 52-yard touchdown pass from Houser to Yannick Smith, but it was too little, too late.
Navy’s defense was exceptional on third downs, holding East Carolina to just 4 of 15 conversions. The Midshipmen also forced a turnover on downs at their own 3-yard line in the first quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Rayuan Lane led the team with nine tackles, while MarcAnthony Parker added a sack.
The win showcased Navy’s motivation and their ability to rally behind Woodson. As Newberry summed up, "Super proud of the way Braxton played and composed himself, and the way our guys rallied around him."
With the win, Navy improves to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the American Athletic Conference, keeping their hopes alive for a strong bowl game invitation. They’ll look to carry this momentum into their regular-season finale against Army on December 14.
For East Carolina (7-5, 5-3 AAC), the loss ends their regular season on a sour note, but they remain bowl-eligible and will await their postseason fate.
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