The hype around Annapolis this offseason was palpable. Navy was widely viewed as the preseason favorite to win the American Conference, bringing a seasoned roster and high expectations into the fall.
Fast forward to late September, and reality has hit hard. Following a gut-wrenching 24-20 road loss to UAB under the Friday night lights in Birmingham, the Midshipmen are suddenly staring down a 1-2 overall record and a disastrous 0-2 hole in conference play.
The Backup Steps Up
If there was a silver lining in Protective Stadium, it was backup quarterback Jackson Gutierrez. With starting senior quarterback Braxton Woodson sidelined due to an ankle injury, Gutierrez was thrust into the spotlight for his first career start.
The sophomore didn’t just manage the game—he carried the offense. Gutierrez racked up a career-high 134 rushing yards and a touchdown on 34 relentless carries. He even showed competence through the air in Navy’s famously run-heavy scheme, completing 4 of 13 passes for 104 yards. By the end of the third quarter, Gutierrez had successfully engineered a drive capped off by a Vic Listorti 7-yard touchdown run, giving Navy a promising 20-17 lead.
A Fourth-Quarter Collapse
Unfortunately, football is a four-quarter game, and Navy’s ball security completely unraveled when it mattered most.
Early in the fourth quarter, Navy’s defense intercepted UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, setting the Midshipmen up in favorable territory. But disaster struck when Gutierrez was sacked and fumbled the ball. On the very next play, UAB running back Braylon McReynolds broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run, instantly swinging the momentum and putting the Blazers up 24-20.
Navy’s attempt to respond was derailed by another costly turnover when running back Michael Barrow fumbled with just over seven minutes remaining. The Midshipmen were given one last lifeline after UAB missed a late field goal, but the Blazers’ defensive front overwhelmed Gutierrez, ending the game with back-to-back sacks.
Winning the Box Score, Losing the Game
The frustration for head coach Brian Newberry and his staff will undoubtedly stem from the stat sheet. Navy dominated almost every traditional metric:
| Metric | Navy | UAB |
| Total Offense | 353 yards | 290 yards |
| First Downs | 23 | 15 |
| Rushing Yards | 249 | 116 |
| Time of Possession | 34:22 | 23:38 |
But stats don’t win championships, and turnovers in critical moments negate time of possession. Despite a monster defensive effort from linebacker MarcAnthony Parker—who logged 10 tackles and 3 sacks—the Midshipmen simply couldn’t get out of their own way late in the game.
What’s Next for Navy Football?
With two conference losses before October even begins, Navy’s preseason hopes of hoisting the American trophy are now on life support. There is no time to dwell on the “what ifs,” however, as the stakes remain incredibly high. The Midshipmen must immediately turn their focus to their biggest non-conference objective of the year: a trip to Colorado Springs to face rival Air Force in the opening leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series.
Navy has the talent, but until they can clean up the self-inflicted wounds, that preseason hype will remain nothing more than a memory.
