Kade Williams Delivers Last-Minute Heroics as No. 1 Navy Rugby Defeats No. 7 Saint Mary’s 30-28
By Brian Hradsky
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — No. 1 Navy 30, No. 7 Saint Mary’s 28.
The top-ranked Navy men’s rugby team delivered one of its most dramatic victories of the 2026 season Saturday afternoon, defeating seventh-ranked Saint Mary’s 30-28 at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis. Kade Williams emerged as the hero, converting a game-winning penalty kick in the 80th minute to preserve Navy’s undefeated record. The victory improved the Midshipmen to 8-0 and marked the program’s first win over Saint Mary’s. It also demonstrated that Navy could survive a close contest against one of the nation’s elite collegiate rugby programs.
Williams Saves Navy in Dramatic Final Minutes
With less than three minutes remaining, Navy appeared headed toward its first defeat of the season. Saint Mary’s had erased a nine-point deficit, and Oliver Cline connected on a penalty kick at the 77:22 mark to give the Gaels a 28-27 advantage. The Midshipmen had watched a 27-18 lead disappear during a frantic closing stretch that included a Saint Mary’s try and a Navy interception return for a try that officials disallowed because of a high tackle penalty. Navy needed one final opportunity to avoid a heartbreaking home loss.
That opportunity arrived almost immediately after the ensuing restart. Saint Mary’s committed a penalty, giving Williams a chance to reclaim the lead with the clock approaching 80 minutes. The Navy kicker calmly delivered at 79:07, sending his attempt through the uprights to put the Midshipmen ahead 30-28. The successful kick completed a remarkable comeback and sent Navy into its final fall contest without a loss.
Williams finished with a team-high 13 points, converting three penalty kicks and two conversion attempts. His performance was particularly important because Navy struggled to establish the offensive dominance that had characterized much of its fall schedule. Instead of overwhelming its opponent, the Midshipmen relied on timely execution and composure under pressure. Williams supplied both when the game mattered most.
Saint Mary’s Challenges Navy From the Opening Minutes
The Gaels wasted little time demonstrating why they entered the contest ranked seventh nationally. At the 11:20 mark, Saint Mary’s intercepted a Navy pass following a scrum, and AteLea Tensei scored the opening try to give the visitors a 5-0 advantage. Navy responded with sustained offensive pressure that eventually produced a penalty try at 21:50. The automatic seven-point award gave the Midshipmen their first lead, 7-5.
Saint Mary’s regained control through the kicking game of Cline, who converted penalties at 26:50 and 33:40. Those successful attempts gave the Gaels an 11-7 advantage as the first half approached its conclusion. Navy continued attacking but could not produce another try before the break. Williams converted a penalty kick at the 40-minute mark, trimming the deficit to 11-10 at halftime.
The first 40 minutes represented an unusual challenge for a Navy team accustomed to controlling matches early. The Midshipmen entered the contest having defeated No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s 62-10 the previous weekend. Against Saint Mary’s, however, Navy encountered an aggressive defense that disrupted possession and prevented the home team from establishing a comfortable advantage. The narrow halftime deficit created the foundation for an entertaining second half between two nationally prominent programs.
Baublitz and Skidmore Spark Second-Half Offense
Navy returned from halftime with renewed offensive urgency and reclaimed the lead in the 47th minute. Andrew Baublitz broke through the Saint Mary’s defense following an offload and scored his seventh try of the season at 46:13. Williams added the conversion to give the Midshipmen a 17-11 advantage. Another Williams penalty kick at 53:50 extended Navy’s lead to 20-11.
Saint Mary’s answered when Colin Donelly scored a try at 63:33, with Cline adding the conversion to cut Navy’s advantage to 20-18. The Gaels had again demonstrated their ability to respond whenever Navy appeared ready to seize control. The Midshipmen needed another scoring opportunity to create breathing room. Jack Skidmore delivered one at 67:20, slicing through the defense for a try before Williams added the conversion to make it 27-18.
Navy’s nine-point advantage appeared significant with approximately 13 minutes remaining, but the Gaels refused to surrender. Noah Miller completed a breakaway scoring sequence at 72:25, and Cline’s conversion reduced the deficit to 27-25. A subsequent penalty gave Cline another opportunity, and he converted at 77:22 to move Saint Mary’s ahead. That dramatic reversal set the stage for Williams’ decisive response.
Historic Victory Carries Additional Significance
Saturday’s result represented more than another victory in Navy’s undefeated campaign. The Midshipmen entered the game seeking their first win against Saint Mary’s after losing the programs’ inaugural meeting in the 2024 Collegiate Rugby Association of America Division I-A national championship. The Gaels won that championship encounter 26-22, leaving Navy with unfinished business against a nationally respected opponent. Saturday’s narrow victory provided a measure of redemption in front of the Annapolis crowd.
Navy had already secured its fifth consecutive Rugby East championship before facing Saint Mary’s. The Midshipmen clinched that distinction following their victory over Mount St. Mary’s and Penn State’s loss to Life. Navy has now captured the conference title in every season since elevating men’s rugby to varsity status in 2022. The win over Saint Mary’s added an important nonconference achievement to an already impressive fall campaign.
The matchup also highlighted the difference between dominating opponents and defeating championship-caliber competition. Navy had repeatedly posted large offensive totals throughout the season, including 64 points against Southern Virginia and 62 against Mount St. Mary’s. Saint Mary’s forced the Midshipmen into a much more demanding contest in which turnovers, penalties and individual decisions carried enormous consequences. Surviving that test should provide valuable experience as Navy prepares for future postseason competition.
Navy’s Defense Faces an Important Test
Although Navy earned the victory, allowing 28 points represented a significant departure from its earlier defensive performances. Before Saturday, the Midshipmen had held every opponent below 15 points this fall. Saint Mary’s surpassed that threshold during the second half and scored 17 points after halftime. The Gaels’ ability to create opportunities through aggressive defense and quick attacking sequences exposed areas Navy can address before its next game.
The most concerning stretch came during the final eight minutes, when Navy surrendered 10 unanswered points and briefly lost the lead. Miller’s try and Cline’s subsequent penalty kick turned a seemingly comfortable advantage into a potential defeat. Navy also lost an apparent interception-return score because of a high tackle penalty, illustrating how discipline can influence the outcome of a closely contested match. Those mistakes will give the coaching staff important teaching opportunities despite the victory.
Still, Navy’s response deserves considerable credit. Rather than allowing the late reversal to dictate the outcome, the Midshipmen immediately applied pressure following the restart and earned the decisive penalty. Williams then completed the final scoring opportunity with the match hanging in the balance. That sequence showed the resilience required to win when an opponent refuses to back down.
Brian’s Take: Navy Proves It Can Win the Close Ones
Navy’s victory over Saint Mary’s might be its most valuable result of the fall season. The Midshipmen had already demonstrated they could dominate opponents through powerful offensive performances, but Saturday demanded a different type of effort. Saint Mary’s challenged Navy physically, capitalized on mistakes and nearly escaped Annapolis with a major upset. The Midshipmen nevertheless found a way to win when their undefeated season appeared in jeopardy.
Williams deserves substantial recognition for his performance, particularly the composure required to convert the winning kick. Baublitz and Skidmore also provided critical second-half tries, while Navy’s response after surrendering the lead reflected the team’s competitive character. There are legitimate concerns about defensive breakdowns and penalties, especially against a talented opponent capable of exploiting small mistakes. Those concerns should not overshadow the importance of defeating a top-10 program in such dramatic fashion.
The Midshipmen have established themselves as one of the nation’s premier collegiate rugby programs, and Saturday’s result reinforces that standing. Navy now owns an 8-0 record, another Rugby East championship and a historic victory over Saint Mary’s. The challenge moving forward will be maintaining that winning mentality while improving the details that nearly cost the team Saturday. If Navy can combine its explosive offense with stronger discipline and late-game defensive execution, the Midshipmen will remain a formidable national contender.
What’s Next for Navy?
Navy concludes its fall schedule Saturday, Oct. 31, when No. 9 Penn State visits the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Midshipmen will look to finish their fall campaign undefeated while continuing to build momentum against ranked competition. Following Saturday’s thrilling victory, Navy enters that matchup with another important accomplishment and a renewed understanding of what it takes to survive a close game.
