NCAAF

Navy Midshipmen at Tulsa Golden Hurricane

· NCAA - Football
2-6, 1-2 Away
Final
20 - 17

Navy comes from behind on Lavatai TD, upends Tulsa 20-17

Brin gives Tulsa life with TD pass

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

TLSA FG 2nd Period 6:37 Zack Long 26 Yd Field Goal
NAVY FG 2nd Period 0:03 Bijan Nichols 29 Yd Field Goal
TLSA TD 3rd Period 14:47 Anthony Watkins 97 Yd Kickoff Return (Zack Long Kick)
NAVY TD 3rd Period 9:03 James Harris II 1 Yd Run (Bijan Nichols Kick)
NAVY TD 4th Period 11:25 Tai Lavatai 1 Yd Run (Bijan Nichols Kick)
NAVY FG 4th Period 4:14 Bijan Nichols 46 Yd Field Goal
TLSA TD 4th Period 2:21 Ezra Naylor II 2 Yd pass from Davis Brin (Zack Long Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2426.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNAVY https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/202.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTLSA
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

Game Information

Chapman Stadium

Location: Tulsa, OK
Attendance: 16,279 · Capacity:
Full Standings

College Football News

Lane Kiffin: 'This will be an exciting season for Ole Miss'

Lane Kiffin: 'This will be an exciting season for Ole Miss'

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin offers his season outlook as the team moves forward with a new quarterback.

Lt. General (Ret.) Rich Clark: 2025 season will be spectacular

Lt. General (Ret.) Rich Clark: 2025 season will be spectacular

CFP Executive Director Clark joins The Paul Finebaum Show to break down the 2025 CFP format and discuss what's ahead following the commissioners' joint decision on 2026.

Kiffin on Saban: 'It's malpractice for him to not be coaching'

Kiffin on Saban: 'It's malpractice for him to not be coaching'

Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin joins The Paul Finebaum Show and floats the idea of getting Nick Saban back into coaching where Kiffin says his former boss belongs.

Clark Lea speaks belief in Vandy making it to the CFP

Clark Lea speaks belief in Vandy making it to the CFP

Lea joins The Paul Finebaum Show to explain why the Commodores are ready to win in November and make a push to compete in the College Football Playoff.

Diego Pavia cites Bama win for pushing Vanderbilt forward

Diego Pavia cites Bama win for pushing Vanderbilt forward

Pavia says last year's upset victory over the then-No. 1 Crimson Tide has had a positive ripple effect on the Commodores' up-and-coming football program.