The Pirates played their first overtime contest of the season and lost a heartbreaker on a missed field goal. The game saw Holton Ahlers pass Desmond Ridder for the AAC all times yards leader, but that was about the end of the highlights for the Pirates.
On their second possession of the game the Pirates put up the games first points. A 19-yard field goal by Owen Daffer to cap off a drive that went 15 plays and 96-yards. In big part to the Pirate rushing attack which had 52 yards in the first quarter. Navy came in only allowing 52 rushing yards per game.
With eight seconds left in the first half Navy added a 37-yard field goal by Daniel Davies to tie it up at 3 heading into the locker room.
The next score didn’t come until there was only 13:18 left in the game When Holton Ahlers hit Ryan Jones for a 14-yards touchdown pass to cap off an 8 play 70-yard 4:10 drive. It only took Navy 1:22 to respond as Tai Lavatai hit Vincent Terrell Jr. for a 65-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10. The reception put Terrell over 100 reciving yards making him the first Midshipmen to do so since 2018. On the first play of the following drive the Pirates coughed up their first fumble of the year and Navy took over at the Pirate 25. They took full advantage by taking their first lead of the game with a 7-yard TD run by Anton Hall Jr. on the ensuing possession Ahlers hit Isaiah Winstead for a 67-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17 with 8:00 left. The Pirates were driving late when Tyler Fletcher intercepted an Ahlers pass and forced overtime.
The teams traded field goals in the first overtime and Navy opened the second by doing the same. It came down to 37-yard field goal by Daffer which he missed wide left and the Midshipmen won 23-20.
After the Loss Ahlers said “to put that game on Owen is kind of foolish. He works super hard. Put that game on me not on Owen.” The fifth year quarterback is proving time and time again why he is a leader, not just with his records but how he handles himself. The Pirates look to bounce back next week as they take on 1-3 South Florida.