Navy Football Falls to SMU 59-14
Navy had a chance this weekend to make it to their first bowl game since 2019. Unfortunately for them they ran into a buzzsaw that was the SMU Mustangs. There is no disputing that SMU (10-2) is a very good team this year and unfortunately for Navy, their biggest game of the season so far came against one of the best teams on their schedule.
SMU came out throwing the ball all over the field. Quarterback Preston Stone lead the Mustangs down the field on four straight drives that resulted in a 28-0 lead for SMU. Stone hit big shot after big shot, completing a number of throws down the field against the Navy secondary. Stone would throw for 275 first quarter passing yards- the most by an FBS quarterback this season.
A muffed punt late in the first quarter gave Navy some life as they scored to make it 28-7, but a Navy muffed punt would set SMU up with great field position as they would stretch the lead- effectively ending any momentum the Midshipmen had.
From there, the Mustangs would continue to stretch out the lead until they put their backups in during the second half. Except for a 69 yard TD run by Braxton Woodson, it was a really quiet game for Navy offensively.
The loss is crushing for Navy as they had a chance to make their first bowl game in four seasons. Despite the loss, this team still has the biggest game of their season left when they play Army in two weeks. They also have a chance to finish at .500, which under a first year head coach and with as tough of a schedule as they’ve had would have to feel like a huge accomplishment.
