Football Falls in AAC Opener to Navy

Saturday, September 7

Annapolis, Md.

3:30 PM

Temple University

0-2 , 0-1

Navy

2-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Temple

Navy

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Football Falls in AAC Opener to Navy

9.7.24 | Football

Box Score Game Book Stan Drayton Press Conference Brock/Wright Press Conference Jean/Keaton Press Conference Photo Gallery

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Temple Owls (0-2, 0-1 AAC) fell to the Navy Midshipmen (2-0, 1-0 AAC) 38-11 in their 2024 American Athletic Conference opener. Navy QB Blake Horvath led the way for Navy, tallying four total touchdowns and adding 122 yards rushing. Temple WR Dante Wright recorded 101 yards receiving and scored Temple's only touchdown of the day.

How it Happened

Navy opened the scoring with 5:44 remaining in the first quarter when a mishandled snap forced Temple QB Forrest Brock out the back of his own end zone, resulting in a safety..
After receiving the free kick off, Navy QB Blake Horvath capped off a 58-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown in the closing moments in the first quarter to make it 9-0 Navy.
Following an interception, Horvath kept the ball himself on the first play of the Midshipmen's ensuing drive and ran for a 62-yard touchdown, making the score 16-0 two minutes into the second quarter.
With 8:04 remaining in the first half, FB Alex Tecza extended Navy's lead to 23-0 with a 65-yard rushing touchdown.
Kicker Maddux Trujillo got the Owls on the board by converting on a 36-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
Navy received the second half kickoff and scored on their first possession. A 31-yard touchdown pass from Horvath to WR Eli Heidenreich was followed by a successful two point conversion completion to WR Brandon Chatman which made the score 31-3 Navy.
A third rushing touchdown from Horvath extended Navy's lead to 38-3 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter.
WR Dante Wright got six back for the Owls, as he caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Brock. The pair connected again on the two-point conversion, making the score 38-11.
Navy was able to run the clock down effectively in the latter half of the fourth quarter, resulting in a 38-11 final score.

Statistically Speaking

TE James Della Pesca's three catches set a career high. The graduate student also hauled in a career-long 25-yard pass.
WR Dante Wright set a new career high in receptions with 11.
LB D.J. Woodbury led the Owls with ten tackles.

Notes

D.J. Woodbury, Tra Thomas, Elijah Deravil, and Latrell Jean served as game captains.
WR Cole Sprague recorded his first career reception for the Owls.
QB Forrest Brock found 12 different targets during the course of the game.

Up Next
Temple will open its home schedule next week with a non-conference matchup against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, September 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.