Gutierrez Leads Navy to 34-26 Comeback Victory Over Tulsa, Snapping Three-Game Losing Streak
By Brian Hradsky October 11, 2026 | Maryland Sports BlogNav
The Navy Midshipmen snapped their three-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 34-26 comeback victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez delivered an outstanding performance, rushing for a career-high 232 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score through the air. Navy overcame four turnovers and a 12-point second-half deficit, scoring the game’s final 20 points to secure its first American Conference victory of the season. The win improved Navy to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play, while Tulsa fell to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
Navy vs. Tulsa: Final Score
| Quarter | Tulsa | Navy |
|---|---|---|
| First | 14 | 7 |
| Second | 6 | 7 |
| Third | 6 | 6 |
| Fourth | 0 | 14 |
| Final | 26 | 34 |
Navy Starts Fast Before Tulsa Takes Control
Navy opened the game with an explosive five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that immediately established its offensive intentions. Gutierrez broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run with 12:42 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Midshipmen an early 7-0 advantage. The junior quarterback found a running lane through Tulsa’s defense and demonstrated the speed that would become a major factor throughout the afternoon. However, Navy’s promising start quickly disappeared as Tulsa began taking advantage of defensive breakdowns and costly turnovers.
The Golden Hurricane answered with a methodical 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Sevion Morrison. Tulsa continued applying pressure when quarterback Oran Singleton connected with David Wells Jr. for a 10-yard touchdown pass, giving the visitors a 14-7 lead. Navy struggled to maintain possession and committed several mistakes that provided Tulsa with favorable field position. The Golden Hurricane carried their seven-point advantage into the second quarter with momentum firmly on their side.
Tulsa extended its lead during the second quarter behind two field goals from Owen Carey, who connected from 30 and 24 yards. Navy’s offense continued struggling with ball security, allowing the Golden Hurricane to build a 20-7 advantage with just over a minute remaining before halftime. Gutierrez responded by directing a quick five-play, 72-yard scoring drive that gave the Midshipmen some much-needed momentum. He connected with Truman Brasfield for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining, cutting Tulsa’s halftime lead to 20-14.
Tulsa Extends Lead in Third Quarter
Tulsa opened the second half with another impressive scoring possession, marching 75 yards on nine plays against Navy’s defense. Quarterback Baylor Hayes connected with Singleton for a three-yard touchdown, extending the Golden Hurricane’s advantage to 26-14 with 10:23 remaining in the third quarter. The failed conversion attempt left Tulsa ahead by 12 points, but Navy still faced a difficult situation after committing multiple turnovers. The Midshipmen needed their offense to establish longer possessions while preventing Tulsa from creating additional scoring opportunities.
Navy responded with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that showcased the effectiveness of its rushing attack. Charles Robinson finished the possession with a seven-yard touchdown run, reducing Tulsa’s lead to 26-20 with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter. Although Navy failed on the ensuing conversion attempt, the touchdown helped shift momentum back toward the Midshipmen. Gutierrez and the offensive line began finding consistent success against Tulsa’s defensive front, setting the stage for a decisive fourth quarter.
Gutierrez Takes Over in Fourth Quarter
The Midshipmen entered the final quarter trailing by six points but quickly demonstrated that their rushing attack was beginning to wear down Tulsa’s defense. Navy put together a 14-play, 62-yard touchdown drive that consumed nearly seven minutes and repeatedly moved the chains on the ground. Gutierrez capped the possession with a four-yard touchdown run, tying the game before Nolan Bartley’s extra point gave Navy a 27-26 lead with 8:30 remaining. It marked Navy’s first lead since the opening quarter and completed a remarkable comeback from its 12-point second-half deficit.
Navy’s defense responded with one of its most important possessions of the afternoon, forcing Tulsa into a three-and-out and returning the football to Gutierrez. The Midshipmen capitalized by assembling another lengthy scoring drive, marching 82 yards on 13 plays while consuming more than six minutes. Gutierrez finished the possession with a three-yard touchdown run, extending Navy’s advantage to 34-26 with 1:10 remaining. The defense protected the eight-point lead in the closing seconds, completing a fourth-quarter shutout and securing Navy’s second victory of the season.
Gutierrez Delivers Career Performance
Gutierrez finished with 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries, producing one of the most impressive performances by a Navy quarterback in recent years. His rushing total was the highest by a Midshipmen player since Malcolm Perry recorded 304 yards against Army in December 2019. Gutierrez also completed five of seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, giving him 327 total offensive yards and four touchdowns. His ability to produce explosive runs while directing lengthy scoring possessions proved essential in overcoming Navy’s turnover problems.
Running back Michael Barrow provided another productive performance, rushing for 107 yards on 14 carries and helping Navy establish control at the line of scrimmage. Brasfield contributed the Midshipmen’s biggest passing play with his 58-yard touchdown reception late in the first half, preventing Tulsa from entering halftime with a commanding advantage. Robinson also made an important contribution with his seven-yard touchdown run during the third quarter. Navy finished with 386 rushing yards on 67 carries, averaging approximately 5.8 yards per attempt.
Navy Dominates Statistical Battle Despite Four Turnovers
| Category | Navy | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 481 | 376 |
| Passing yards | 95 | 278 |
| Rushing yards | 386 | 98 |
| First downs | 24 | 16 |
| Third-down conversions | 8/11 | 7/16 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:31 | 25:29 |
Navy’s offensive production was particularly impressive considering the Midshipmen committed four turnovers while failing to force a single takeaway. The Midshipmen outgained Tulsa by 105 yards and established a 288-yard advantage on the ground, demonstrating their ability to control the line of scrimmage. Navy also converted eight of its 11 third-down opportunities, allowing the offense to sustain lengthy possessions and keep Tulsa’s passing attack on the sidelines. The rushing attack ultimately proved too much for the Golden Hurricane, particularly during the final quarter.
Tulsa quarterback Hayes completed 20 of 35 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown, helping the Golden Hurricane establish an advantage through the air. Javon Ross led Tulsa with seven receptions for 90 yards, while Singleton contributed five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Dax Collins recorded 13 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another, contributing to Navy’s offensive mistakes. Despite those individual performances, Tulsa struggled to contain Gutierrez and the Midshipmen’s rushing attack when the game was on the line.
Navy Snaps Three-Game Losing Streak
Saturday’s victory provided much-needed relief for a Navy program that entered the matchup following consecutive losses to Florida Atlantic, UAB and Air Force. The Midshipmen had struggled offensively during their previous game, managing only nine points in a 14-9 loss to Air Force on October 3. Against Tulsa, Navy demonstrated significantly more offensive production and generated several explosive plays that had been missing during its losing streak. The 34-point performance also highlighted the potential of the Midshipmen’s rushing attack when Gutierrez receives consistent blocking.
The victory prevented Navy from falling to 0-3 in American Conference competition and provided an opportunity to build momentum heading into the second half of the season. Head coach Brian Newberry’s team still faces significant challenges, particularly when it comes to protecting the football and preventing explosive passing plays. However, the Midshipmen demonstrated resilience by overcoming a double-digit deficit and controlling the fourth quarter. The performance offered encouraging signs that Navy can remain competitive against conference opponents if it eliminates unnecessary mistakes.
Navy Travels to Face UTSA Next
Navy will return to action Saturday, October 17, when the Midshipmen travel to San Antonio to face the UTSA Roadrunners. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern, giving Navy another opportunity to improve its American Conference record and build on Saturday’s comeback victory. The Midshipmen will look for another productive rushing performance from Gutierrez and Barrow while placing greater emphasis on protecting the football. A second consecutive victory would provide Navy with additional confidence as it attempts to recover from its difficult start to the season.
MSB Take
Navy desperately needed a victory Saturday afternoon, and Gutierrez delivered one of the most impressive individual performances the program has seen in recent years. Rushing for 232 yards and accounting for four touchdowns is remarkable, especially considering the Midshipmen committed four turnovers and trailed by 12 points in the second half. Gutierrez demonstrated tremendous toughness by carrying the football 41 times and continuing to make plays when Navy needed him most. His ability to lead two lengthy fourth-quarter touchdown drives was the difference between another disappointing defeat and a much-needed conference victory.
However, Navy cannot expect to win consistently while giving the football away four times, particularly against stronger conference opponents. Tulsa had several opportunities to put the game away, and the Midshipmen were fortunate that their rushing attack was productive enough to overcome those mistakes. Newberry and his coaching staff must address the ball-security problems before they become an even bigger issue during the remainder of the season. Navy’s offense clearly has the ability to produce significant rushing numbers, but discipline and execution will determine whether those performances translate into victories.
The most encouraging aspect of Saturday’s performance was Navy’s ability to dominate the fourth quarter on both sides of the football. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, Gutierrez consistently found running lanes, and the defense prevented Tulsa from scoring during the final 15 minutes. That is the type of complementary football the Midshipmen must continue playing if they hope to turn their season around. Saturday’s victory does not erase the frustration of the previous three losses, but it provides a foundation for a much stronger second half of the season.
Sources: ESPN Game Summary | Navy Athletics | Tulsa Athletics | American Conference
