Navy Midshipmen at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
· NCAA - Football
Navy comes from behind on Lavatai TD, upends Tulsa 20-17
Lavatai was 0-for-3 passing but gained a career-high 64 yards on the ground, giving him 242 rushing yards and five touchdowns in six starts. The Midshipmen gained 302 yards rushing, zero passing.
The 15-play eight-minute drive in Navy's (2-6, 2-4 American Athletic Conference) come-from-behind win foiled a big night by Tulsa's Anthony Watkins, who scored the Golden Hurricanes first kickoff return for a touchdown in nearly a decade and compiled 178 yards in total offense.
The win was Navy's first on the road this season and broke a three-game losing streak.
Watkins scored a 97-yard kickoff return to open the second half as Tulsa (3-5, 2-2) took a 10-3 lead. The last Golden Hurricane with a kickoff return for a TD was Trey Watts, 95-yards against Marshall on Oct. 6, 2012.
Late in the first half, Zack Long kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead as Tulsa salvaged points from a five-play drive that began with a Watkins season-long 78-yard rush to the Navy 7-yard line.
Watkins spun away from a tackler at the line of scrimmage and bolted straight downfield before he was caught. Watkins had 81 yards rushing on five carries.
Bijan Nichols evened the score with a 29-yard field goal for Navy with three seconds left in the first half.
After the Watkins kickoff return, Navy scored after two long drives to tie and take the lead. Nichols added a 46-yard field goal for insurance.
Davis Brin, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 165 yards, connected with Ezra Naylor II on a 2-yard touchdown pass, pulling Tulsa to within 20-17 with 2:21 to play.
Navy recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
How To Watch
How can I watch Navy Midshipmen vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane?
- TV Channel: Midshipmen at Golden Hurricane 2021 College Football, week 9, is broadcasted on ESPN2.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Scoring Summary
 |
FG | 2nd Period 6:37 | Zack Long 26 Yd Field Goal |
 |
FG | 2nd Period 0:03 | Bijan Nichols 29 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 3rd Period 14:47 | Anthony Watkins 97 Yd Kickoff Return (Zack Long Kick) |
|
TD | 3rd Period 9:03 | James Harris II 1 Yd Run (Bijan Nichols Kick) |
|
TD | 4th Period 11:25 | Tai Lavatai 1 Yd Run (Bijan Nichols Kick) |
|
FG | 4th Period 4:14 | Bijan Nichols 46 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 4th Period 2:21 | Ezra Naylor II 2 Yd pass from Davis Brin (Zack Long Kick) |
Statistics
 NAVY |
 TLSA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1st Downs | 13 |
| 7-15 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-11 |
| 0-1 | 4th down efficiency | 0-1 |
| 302 | Total Yards | 294 |
| 0 | Passing | 165 |
| 0/4 | Comp/Att | 13/23 |
| 0.0 | Yards per pass | 7.2 |
| 302 | Rushing | 129 |
| 60 | Rushing Attempts | 30 |
| 5.0 | Yards per rush | 4.3 |
| 5-45 | Penalties | 8-70 |
| 0 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 0 | Fumbles lost | 1 |
| 0 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
| 37:18 | Possession | 22:42 |
College Football News
Indiana president: Hoosiers' sudden rise expected under Cignetti
Indiana president Pamela Whitten told ESPN that the Hoosiers' quick rise to the top of college football was expected when they hired Curt Cignetti.
Cristobal: Xavier Lucas' targeting call was 'unjustly administered'
Mario Cristobal speaks on Xavier Lucas having to sit out of the first half of the national championship game due to his targeting call in Miami's semifinal win vs. Ole Miss.
Mario Cristobal bemoans targeting call on Miami's Xavier Lucas
Miami coach Mario Cristobal says the punishment that goes with a targeting call made in the second half needs to be reevaluated.
Will Fernando Mendoza be a victim of the Heisman QB curse?
Since 1988, seven quarterbacks who have won the Heisman Trophy and earned a title game berth have fallen in the national championship game. Is Mendoza next?
Miami looking to become latest team to win 'home' national title game
Miami will be playing in the championship game uniquely close to campus, but others have played for a title in their home state.