Navy Falls to UTSA 38-34 in Fourth-Quarter Thriller Despite Record-Breaking Performance From Jackson Gutierrez
By Brian Hradsky
October 18, 2026 | Navy Midshipmen Football | Maryland Sports Blog
The Navy Midshipmen suffered a heartbreaking 38-34 defeat against the UTSA Roadrunners Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, despite a record-setting performance from quarterback Jackson Gutierrez. Navy held three separate leads during the contest, including a 34-31 advantage with less than five minutes remaining, but could not stop UTSA quarterback Owen McCown from engineering the winning touchdown drive. Gutierrez accounted for four touchdowns, including a school-record 92-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Collins, while rushing for 139 yards and two scores. The loss dropped Navy to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in American Conference play, while UTSA improved to 6-1 and remained undefeated in conference competition at 3-0.
The Midshipmen finished with 477 yards of total offense, including 294 rushing yards, and demonstrated their ability to generate explosive plays against one of the conference’s strongest teams. However, Navy struggled to contain McCown, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. The game featured four lead changes during the fourth quarter, creating one of Navy’s most entertaining but frustrating contests of the season. UTSA ultimately capitalized on its final meaningful offensive possession, scoring the winning touchdown with 2:24 remaining before stopping Navy’s comeback attempt.
First Quarter: Navy Establishes Early Momentum
Navy opened the game with an impressive six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that demonstrated the effectiveness of its option-based rushing attack. Gutierrez directed the possession with several productive runs before finishing with a two-yard touchdown at the 11:54 mark. The extra point gave Navy a 7-0 advantage and immediately placed pressure on the UTSA defense. The Midshipmen established control of the line of scrimmage while keeping the Roadrunners’ offense off the field during the opening stages.
Navy’s defense complemented the strong offensive start by preventing UTSA from scoring during the first quarter. The Midshipmen limited the Roadrunners’ early opportunities and forced McCown to operate under pressure. Navy continued relying on its rushing attack to maintain possession and create favorable down-and-distance situations. The Midshipmen entered the second quarter with a seven-point lead and an opportunity to build a substantial advantage.
Second Quarter: Navy Builds 14-0 Lead Before UTSA Responds
The Midshipmen extended their lead early in the second quarter with another impressive offensive possession. Navy marched 92 yards in 10 plays, completing its longest scoring drive of the season in terms of total yardage. Gutierrez finished the possession with a five-yard touchdown run, giving him two rushing touchdowns and extending Navy’s advantage to 14-0. The Midshipmen appeared to have established complete control, but UTSA quickly demonstrated why it entered the matchup with only one loss.
McCown sparked the Roadrunners’ comeback by connecting with Mekhi Anderson for a 46-yard touchdown pass, cutting Navy’s lead to 14-7. UTSA continued attacking through the air, finding opportunities against Navy’s secondary while using its passing game to stretch the field. McCown later connected with Brandon Young Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown reception, tying the game at 14 midway through the second quarter. The two scoring drives completely erased Navy’s early advantage and shifted momentum toward the home team.
UTSA then executed a successful onside kick, immediately giving its offense another opportunity to capitalize on the momentum swing. The Roadrunners took advantage of the additional possession when A’Marion Peterson scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 3:56 remaining before halftime. The touchdown completed a stretch of 21 unanswered UTSA points and gave the Roadrunners their first lead at 21-14. Navy suddenly found itself trailing despite controlling the opening stages of the contest.
The Midshipmen responded with an important touchdown drive before halftime, moving 75 yards in eight plays. Gutierrez connected with Collins for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining, bringing Navy within one point. However, Nolan Bartley’s extra-point attempt struck the right upright, preventing the Midshipmen from tying the game. Navy entered halftime trailing 21-20 despite producing three offensive touchdowns during the opening 30 minutes.
Third Quarter: UTSA Extends Lead as Defenses Settle Down
The third quarter featured considerably less scoring as both defenses made adjustments following the explosive first half. UTSA continued relying on McCown’s passing ability to move the football, but Navy’s defense prevented the Roadrunners from reaching the end zone. Michael Petro eventually connected on a 36-yard field goal with 8:03 remaining in the period, extending UTSA’s advantage to 24-20. The field goal represented the only points scored during the third quarter.
Navy continued generating opportunities through its rushing attack but struggled to finish possessions during the period. Gutierrez remained the focal point of the offense, using his mobility and decision-making to challenge UTSA’s defensive front. The Midshipmen entered the fourth quarter trailing by four points, knowing that a touchdown would restore their advantage. With both offenses capable of producing explosive plays, the final 15 minutes promised a dramatic finish.
Fourth Quarter: Gutierrez Breaks Navy Passing Record
Navy regained the lead early in the fourth quarter with one of the most remarkable offensive plays in program history. Facing second-and-10 deep in its own territory, Gutierrez connected with Collins on a 92-yard touchdown pass with 12:47 remaining. Collins broke free behind the UTSA defense and raced into the end zone, giving Navy a 27-24 advantage. The touchdown established a new school record for the longest pass play in Navy football history, surpassing the previous 87-yard mark set by Chris McCoy and Matt Scornavacchi against Tulane in 1995.
The historic touchdown highlighted an outstanding individual performance from both Gutierrez and Collins. Gutierrez finished with 120 passing yards and two touchdowns on just three completions, while Collins recorded 117 receiving yards and two scores on two receptions. The sophomore tight end established career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns while contributing one of the most memorable plays of Navy’s season. However, the Midshipmen still needed their defense to protect the narrow advantage against UTSA’s dangerous offense.
The Roadrunners answered with another touchdown drive, reclaiming the lead when running back Will Henderson III broke free for a 31-yard scoring run. The touchdown gave UTSA a 31-27 advantage with 8:17 remaining and forced Navy to respond once again. Henderson finished the contest with 78 rushing yards, providing UTSA with an effective complement to McCown’s passing attack. The back-and-forth scoring continued as neither defense could consistently contain the opposing offense.
Navy produced another explosive offensive possession to regain the lead during the closing minutes. Senior quarterback Braxton Woodson, returning to significant action after suffering an ankle injury against Florida Atlantic in September, connected with Gutierrez for a 63-yard completion. The unusual quarterback-to-quarterback passing play moved Navy deep into UTSA territory and created an opportunity for the Midshipmen to retake control. Woodson completed the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, giving Navy a 34-31 advantage with 4:50 remaining.
McCown Delivers Game-Winning Touchdown
UTSA regained possession needing a touchdown to take the lead, and McCown responded with an impressive six-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The Roadrunners moved efficiently downfield against Navy’s defense, using quick completions and effective blocking to maintain offensive momentum. McCown eventually connected with Peterson for a 41-yard touchdown pass with 2:24 remaining, giving UTSA a 38-34 advantage. The scoring play represented the fourth lead change of the quarter and ultimately decided the contest.
Navy received the football with an opportunity to produce another dramatic comeback, but the ensuing possession quickly became difficult. Penalties pushed the Midshipmen backward, creating unfavorable down-and-distance situations that limited their offensive options. Gutierrez attempted to generate yardage with his legs, but UTSA’s defense prevented Navy from converting on fourth down. The Roadrunners regained possession with 1:50 remaining, leaving the Midshipmen with little time to mount another comeback.
Navy eventually regained possession with eight seconds remaining, but the offense could not advance the football far enough to threaten the end zone. UTSA secured the 38-34 victory, completing a dramatic comeback after trailing by 14 points during the first half. The Roadrunners improved to 5-0 in one-score games this season, demonstrating their ability to execute during critical late-game situations. For Navy, the defeat represented another frustrating result in a season filled with competitive but unsuccessful finishes.
Gutierrez Delivers Historic Performance
Gutierrez produced one of the most impressive individual performances of Navy’s season, accounting for four touchdowns while contributing as both a runner and passer. The junior quarterback rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, consistently finding openings against the UTSA defensive front. He also completed three of six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, including the record-breaking 92-yard connection with Collins. Gutierrez’s versatility forced UTSA to defend multiple offensive threats throughout the evening.
The San Antonio native also contributed as a receiver during Woodson’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive, catching a 63-yard pass that helped set up Navy’s final score. His ability to produce explosive plays in several different ways demonstrated the flexibility of Navy’s offensive system. Gutierrez has continued developing into a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, providing the Midshipmen with an effective rushing attack and occasional downfield passing opportunities. Unfortunately, his historic performance was not enough to overcome UTSA’s late offensive execution.
Collins finished with two receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns, establishing new career highs in both categories. Woodson contributed 73 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries while completing his only pass attempt for 63 yards. Michael Barrow added 67 rushing yards on 15 carries, giving Navy another productive contributor in the backfield. The Midshipmen finished with 294 rushing yards and averaged more than six yards per offensive play.
Navy Defense Struggles Against McCown
Navy’s defense faced significant challenges against McCown, who repeatedly attacked the secondary with accurate passes and effective decision-making. The UTSA quarterback completed 28 of 38 attempts for 359 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Roadrunners accumulate 469 total yards. His ability to connect with multiple receivers prevented Navy from concentrating its defensive coverage on a single offensive threat. McCown’s game-winning touchdown pass to Peterson demonstrated the problems Navy experienced containing explosive passing plays.
Senior captain Giuseppe Sessi led Navy with nine tackles, including eight solo stops, while also breaking up a pass. Coleman Cauley added eight tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries, contributing several important defensive plays. Aiden Lyczek finished with five tackles, one sack and a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, while Phillip Hamilton and Aaron Rose recorded seven tackles each. Although Navy generated pressure in the backfield, the Midshipmen could not consistently prevent UTSA from completing important passes.
The most disappointing defensive sequence came during UTSA’s final touchdown drive, when Navy needed one stop to secure the victory. The Roadrunners moved 75 yards in six plays, demonstrating their ability to execute efficiently under pressure. Navy had already surrendered 31 points before the possession, but the defense could not protect the three-point lead established by Woodson’s touchdown. The inability to close out the contest ultimately overshadowed several encouraging individual defensive performances.
Navy Continues Struggling in Close Games
Saturday’s defeat continued a frustrating pattern for Navy, which has now played five consecutive games decided by one possession. The Midshipmen have lost four of those five contests after winning all five of their one-score games during the previous season. The dramatic reversal highlights the importance of late-game execution and the difficulty Navy has experienced protecting narrow leads. Despite consistently competing against quality opponents, the Midshipmen have struggled to turn those performances into victories.
Navy has now rushed for at least 170 yards in 21 of its last 22 games, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of its offensive identity. The Midshipmen also surpassed 400 total yards for the third time this season, producing 477 yards against UTSA. However, offensive production alone has not been enough to overcome defensive breakdowns and costly mistakes during critical moments. Navy must find greater consistency across all three phases of the game if it hopes to improve its conference standing.
The Midshipmen will return to Annapolis next Saturday to face North Texas at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., giving Navy an opportunity to regroup following its difficult road defeat. The matchup will provide another important conference test against a North Texas team that entered the weekend with a 4-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in American Conference competition. Navy will need another productive offensive performance while improving its defensive execution to avoid another disappointing finish.
MSB Take
Navy’s 38-34 loss to UTSA was one of the most entertaining games of the season, but the result was another frustrating reminder of the Midshipmen’s inability to close out tight contests. Gutierrez delivered an outstanding performance, accounting for four touchdowns and producing a school-record 92-yard touchdown pass to Collins. Woodson’s return also provided an important offensive boost, particularly during the fourth-quarter touchdown drive that briefly restored Navy’s lead. However, those offensive accomplishments were overshadowed by the defense’s inability to prevent UTSA from scoring the winning touchdown during the final minutes.
The Midshipmen demonstrated that their offense can compete against strong conference opponents, generating 477 yards and repeatedly producing explosive plays. The combination of Gutierrez’s rushing ability, Collins’ receiving production and Woodson’s versatility gives Navy several encouraging offensive options. Unfortunately, the defense continues struggling to contain opposing quarterbacks during critical situations, and UTSA capitalized on those weaknesses throughout the contest. Navy cannot expect to consistently win games when opponents are allowed to score 38 points and execute lengthy scoring drives with the outcome hanging in the balance.
The most concerning statistic is Navy’s 1-4 record in one-score games this season after going undefeated in those situations a year ago. Winning close games requires disciplined execution, effective clock management and the ability to make defensive stops when opponents are threatening to score. Navy has demonstrated enough offensive talent to compete with several of the American Conference’s stronger teams, but the Midshipmen must improve their performance during the final minutes. The upcoming home matchup against North Texas provides an opportunity to correct those mistakes and begin turning competitive performances into victories.
