Navy Falls Short Against Air Force, 14-9, in Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Opener

The Navy Midshipmen could not turn a strong second-half defensive performance into a comeback Saturday afternoon, falling to the Air Force Falcons 14-9 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs.

Navy held Air Force scoreless throughout the second half and forced two interceptions, but the Midshipmen offense struggled to sustain drives. Air Force built an 11-point halftime advantage and made it stand, handing Navy its third consecutive loss. The Midshipmen fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the American Conference, while Air Force improved to 3-1.

The loss also puts Navy in an extremely difficult position in the race for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Air Force now owns the first victory in this season’s service-academy series and improved its all-time record against Navy to 35-24.

Defensive Battle Early

Neither offense found the end zone during the opening quarter as the two service academies settled into the type of physical game that has traditionally defined the rivalry.

Air Force finally broke through in the second quarter with a long, methodical possession. Quarterback Liam Szarka finished a 14-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Falcons a 7-0 advantage with 9:11 remaining in the half. The possession consumed 7:51 and demonstrated one of the biggest problems Navy would face throughout the afternoon: getting its offense back onto the field.

Navy responded with its best sustained possession of the first half. The Midshipmen drove 63 yards over nine plays before freshman kicker Nolan Bartley connected on a 29-yard field goal, cutting Air Force’s advantage to 7-3 with 2:21 remaining.

Unfortunately for Navy, Air Force answered almost immediately.

The Falcons covered 75 yards in just nine plays and 1:48. Szarka finished the possession with an eight-yard touchdown run, his second rushing score of the afternoon, and Air Force carried a 14-3 lead into halftime.

Those two second-quarter touchdowns would ultimately provide every point Air Force needed.

Brasfield Gives Navy Life

Navy’s defense refused to allow the game to get away.

The Midshipmen shut down Air Force after halftime and eventually gave the offense enough opportunities to make things interesting. Navy finally produced the explosive play it desperately needed midway through the third quarter.

Starting from its own 10-yard line, Navy drove 90 yards in only four plays. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez connected with freshman wide receiver Truman Brasfield for a 68-yard touchdown, cutting Air Force’s lead to 14-9. Navy failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, leaving the Midshipmen five points behind.

The touchdown was particularly significant for Brasfield. It was his first collegiate touchdown and Navy’s longest scoring play of the season. Brasfield entered Saturday with only one career reception before breaking loose for the biggest offensive play of the afternoon.

Suddenly, Navy had life.

Turnover Wipes Away Golden Opportunity

Navy’s defense created another huge opportunity late in the third quarter.

Senior safety Matt Seliga intercepted Szarka at the Navy 25-yard line and returned the ball 12 yards. The Midshipmen then advanced into Air Force territory and appeared to have an opportunity to take their first lead.

Instead, Navy gave the football right back.

Vic Listorti fumbled at the Air Force 41, with the Falcons recovering with 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter. It was an especially costly mistake because Navy had just generated one of its biggest defensive plays of the game and had momentum firmly shifting in its direction.

Navy’s defense responded again.

Coleman Cauley stuffed Rocco Conti on fourth-and-2, handing the Midshipmen possession at the Air Force 49 with 14:05 remaining. It was exactly the type of opportunity Navy needed: excellent field position, a five-point deficit and virtually an entire fourth quarter remaining.

The offense could not take advantage.

Navy gained only three yards before punting.

Navy Cannot Finish the Comeback

The Midshipmen continued getting chances, but Air Force’s defense repeatedly delivered.

Navy’s final real opportunity began at its own 11-yard line with 3:59 remaining. The Midshipmen needed a touchdown to take the lead, but Air Force safety Max Mustell delivered one of the game’s decisive plays when he dropped Gutierrez for a 10-yard loss on a blitz. Navy eventually punted with 1:58 remaining.

Air Force then picked up the first down it needed to exhaust the remaining clock and secure the 14-9 victory.

For Navy, the inability to convert third downs was devastating. The Midshipmen converted just one of 11 third-down opportunities according to Navy’s official statistics, while Air Force went 9-for-18. The Falcons consequently controlled possession for 36:01 compared with only 23:59 for Navy.

That difference prevented Navy from establishing its traditional offensive rhythm.

Navy Running Game Shut Down

Perhaps the most surprising statistic was Navy’s production on the ground.

The Midshipmen finished with only 110 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Michael Barrow led Navy with 44 yards on nine carries, while Gutierrez added 33 yards on 12 attempts and Listorti contributed 30 yards on six carries.

Air Force’s performance ended an impressive Navy streak. The Midshipmen had rushed for at least 170 yards in 19 consecutive games entering Saturday, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Navy finished with 253 total yards, while Air Force produced 270. The Falcons ran 71 offensive plays compared with only 48 for the Midshipmen, another indication of how dramatically possession tilted toward Air Force.

Gutierrez still produced some encouraging moments through the air. He completed seven of 15 passes for a career-high 140 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Luke Hutchison caught three passes for 48 yards, while Brasfield accounted for 68 yards on his touchdown reception.

Braxton Woodson also returned after missing Navy’s previous game. He completed one of three passes for three yards and carried three times for three yards, while Gutierrez handled most of the quarterback duties.

Navy Defense Deserved Better

The biggest positive coming out of Colorado Springs was unquestionably Navy’s defense.

After allowing 14 points during the second quarter, Navy did not surrender another point. The Midshipmen forced two interceptions, produced two three-and-outs and recorded a fourth-down stop. Navy credited the defense with five of its targeted “Get 6” plays, its highest total in a game this season.

Seliga was outstanding in his first collegiate start. He recorded a career-high 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and his first career interception. Cauley finished with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops, while also making the critical fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter.

Philip Hamilton produced Navy’s other takeaway by intercepting Szarka on Air Force’s opening possession. It was Hamilton’s first interception of the season and fourth of his career.

The defense essentially gave Navy everything it could have asked for during the second half.

Air Force did not score.

Navy forced turnovers.

The Mids received the football in Air Force territory with a chance to take the lead.

They simply could not turn those opportunities into points.

Szarka Does Enough for Air Force

Szarka did not dominate statistically, but he made the plays Air Force needed.

The Falcons quarterback carried 25 times for 81 yards and scored both of Air Force’s touchdowns. He completed six of 11 passes for 82 yards while throwing two interceptions.

Air Force finished with 188 rushing yards on 59 attempts. The Falcons averaged only 3.2 yards per carry, but their ability to stay on the field and repeatedly convert third downs allowed them to control the tempo.

Air Force’s defense deserves just as much credit. The Falcons contained Navy’s option game, prevented Gutierrez from consistently escaping on the perimeter and forced the Midshipmen into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations.

Air Force linebacker Blake Fletcher finished with 10 tackles, while Mustell made several crucial fourth-quarter plays, including the late sack that helped extinguish Navy’s final comeback attempt.

Navy Drops Third Straight

The loss continues a difficult stretch for a Navy team that entered the season with significant expectations.

Navy has now lost three consecutive games for the first time since 2021. The Midshipmen dropped to 1-3 after opening the year with a victory, and Saturday’s loss came one week after Navy surrendered a fourth-quarter lead in a 24-20 defeat at UAB.

Head coach Brian Newberry now has to find a way to translate Navy’s defensive progress into complete performances.

The good news is that the defense looked capable of keeping Navy competitive against quality opponents. Holding Air Force scoreless for an entire half and forcing two interceptions should normally create enough opportunities to win.

The offense has to capitalize on them.

Up Next

Navy finally returns to Annapolis next Saturday after spending 35 days away from home. The Midshipmen will host Tulsa, which enters the matchup at 3-2, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

At 1-3, the margin for error is becoming increasingly small. Navy needs to rediscover its rushing attack, improve dramatically on third down and stop wasting the opportunities its defense creates.

MSB Take

This was a frustrating loss because Navy’s defense played well enough to win the game.

Holding Air Force to 14 points, shutting the Falcons out for the entire second half and forcing two interceptions should have been enough. Instead, Navy converted just one third down, rushed for only 110 yards and failed to capitalize after getting the ball at the Air Force 49 early in the fourth quarter.

The biggest concern is the running game. Navy’s offense is built around forcing defenses to respect the option and then punishing them when they overcommit. Air Force largely took that element away Saturday, and outside of the 68-yard Gutierrez-to-Brasfield touchdown, Navy struggled to generate explosive offense.

Gutierrez showed some promise, particularly as a passer, and Brasfield’s touchdown gives Navy another young offensive player to watch. The defense also deserves considerable credit for responding after halftime.

But moral victories are not enough for this program.

Navy is 1-3, has lost three straight games and has now dropped the opening leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy competition. The Midshipmen desperately need to turn things around against Tulsa before a disappointing start becomes a lost season.