Navy Tops East Carolina 34-20 in Week 14 Thriller
Navy defeated East Carolina 34-20 in a competitive Week 14 matchup. The game remained scoreless through the first quarter before East Carolina added a field goal in the second. Navy broke through in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to take control. East Carolina mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Navy 20-17 in the final period, but it proved insufficient.
The back-and-forth contest featured several pivotal plays. Navy's Braxton Woodson connected with Nathan Kent on a 61-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, while East Carolina's Katin Houser found Yannick Smith for a 52-yard touchdown in the same quarter. For East Carolina, Houser led the passing attack with 219 yards, while Rahjai Harris contributed 88 rushing yards and Casey Kelly caught 8 passes.
The game came down to the wire, with 26 lead changes highlighting the competitive nature of the contest. Navy's defense made crucial stops, while both offenses moved the ball effectively in the fourth quarter. Navy covered the 2.5-point spread with the victory.
AI-generated recap · Aug 29, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Navy | 0 | 0 | 14 | 20 | 34 |
 East Carolina | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Navy | East Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 12-19 | 20-36 |
| Pass Yards | 165 | 219 |
| Rush Yards | 293 | 131 |
| Total Yards | 458 | 350 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 8-17 | 4-15 |
| Penalties | 4-33 | 5-45 |
| Possession | 34:30 | 25:30 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Lance Gossett kickoff for 62 yds , Winston Wright Jr. return for 21 yds to the ECU 24
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the ECU 26
Katin Houser sacked by Landon Robinson for a loss of 6 yards to the ECU 20
Luke Larsen punt for 48 yds , Rayuan Lane III returns for 8 yds to the NAVY 40
Braxton Woodson run for 4 yds to the NAVY 44
Alex Tecza run for 2 yds to the NAVY 46
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 9 yds to the ECU 45 for a 1ST down
Eli Heidenreich run for 6 yds to the ECU 39
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Braxton Woodson run for 1 yd to the ECU 38
Brandon Chatman run for 2 yds to the ECU 36
Rahjai Harris run for 3 yds to the ECU 39
Katin Houser pass complete to Casey Kelly for 8 yds to the ECU 47 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Rahjai Harris for 19 yds to the NAVY 34 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the NAVY 32
Rahjai Harris run for 29 yds to the NAVY 3 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 1 yd to the NAVY 2
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the NAVY 7
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the NAVY 3
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Alex Tecza run for 2 yds to the NAVY 5
Eli Heidenreich run for 1 yd to the NAVY 6
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 6 yds to the NAVY 12
Riley Riethman punt for 37 yds , Ja'Marley Riddle returns for 15 yds to the NAVY 34
London Montgomery run for 19 yds to the NAVY 15 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 5 yds to the NAVY 10
Katin Houser run for 2 yds to the NAVY 8
London Montgomery run for 1 yd to the NAVY 7
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (Jimarion McCrimon) to the NAVY 12
Andrew Conrad 30 yd FG MISSED
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Braxton Woodson run for 4 yds to the NAVY 24
(02:27) WOODSON, Braxton pass up the middle complete for 12 yards to TECZA, Alex caught at the NAV21 and advanced to the NAV36 (BARKER, Zakye), clock 02:17. PENALTY NAV Holding on SMITH II, Hoke enforced 10 yards from the NAV24 to the NAV14 [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Braxton Woodson run for 17 yds to the NAVY 31 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 1 yd to the NAVY 32
Braxton Woodson run for a loss of 1 yard to the NAVY 31
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Riley Riethman punt for 41 yds , Ja'Marley Riddle returns for no gain to the ECU 28
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 2 yds to the ECU 32
Katin Houser run for 6 yds to the ECU 38 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 3 yds to the ECU 41
Katin Houser run for 6 yds to the ECU 47
Luke Larsen punt for 45 yds, downed at the NAVY 8
Jackson Gutierrez run for 7 yds to the NAVY 15
Alex Tecza run for a loss of 1 yard to the NAVY 14
Jackson Gutierrez sacked for a loss of 2 yards to the NAVY 16 Jackson Gutierrez fumbled, recovered by ECU TyMir Brown , return for 0 yards
Rahjai Harris run for 3 yds to the NAVY 13
Rahjai Harris run for a loss of 4 yards to the NAVY 17
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Andrew Conrad 35 yd FG GOOD
Alex Tecza run for 3 yds to the NAVY 28
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Navy Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (-3 Yards) to the NAVY 12
Riley Riethman punt for 53 yds , Ja'Marley Riddle returns for a loss of 2 yards to the ECU 25
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser sacked by MarcAnthony Parker for a loss of 8 yards to the ECU 17
Luke Larsen punt for 38 yds
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Alex Tecza for 30 yds to the ECU 25 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 2 yds to the ECU 23
Braxton Woodson run for 5 yds to the ECU 18
Daba Fofana run for 2 yds to the ECU 16
Braxton Woodson run for no gain to the ECU 16
Rahjai Harris run for 10 yds to the ECU 26 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 6 yds to the ECU 32
Rahjai Harris run for no gain to the ECU 32
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Luke Larsen punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Rayuan Lane III at the NAVY 23
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 10 yds to the NAVY 33 for a 1ST down
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Braxton Woodson run for 27 yds to the ECU 40 for a 1ST down East Carolina Penalty, Personal Foul (D'Anta Johnson) to the ECU 26 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 4 yds to the ECU 22
Eli Heidenreich run for 7 yds to the ECU 15 for a 1ST down
Jackson Gutierrez run for 7 yds to the ECU 8
Jackson Gutierrez run for 4 yds to the ECU 4 for a 1ST down
Jackson Gutierrez run for no gain to the ECU 4
Eli Heidenreich run for 3 yds to the ECU 1
Eli Heidenreich run for a loss of 3 yards to the ECU 4
Nathan Kirkwood 21 yd FG MISSED
End of 2nd Quarter
Everett Scott kickoff for 64 yds , Isaiah Bryant return for 23 yds to the NAVY 24
Alex Tecza run for 1 yd to the NAVY 25
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 6 yds to the NAVY 31
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 7 yds to the NAVY 38 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 6 yds to the NAVY 44
Braxton Woodson run for 1 yd to the NAVY 45
Alex Tecza run for 6 yds to the ECU 49 for a 1ST down
Braxton Woodson run for 3 yds to the ECU 46
Brandon Chatman run for 1 yd to the ECU 45
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Brandon Chatman for 9 yds to the ECU 36 for a 1ST down
Eli Heidenreich run for no gain to the ECU 36
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Jake Norris for 15 yds to the ECU 21 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 2 yds to the ECU 19
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Eli Heidenreich for 3 yds to the ECU 16
Brandon Chatman run for 16 yds for a TD (Nathan Kirkwood KICK)
Lance Gossett kickoff for 44 yds , Jhari Patterson return for 11 yds to the ECU 32
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 4 yds to the ECU 36
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the ECU 38
Katin Houser pass complete to Rahjai Harris for 2 yds to the ECU 40
Luke Larsen punt for 43 yds , Rayuan Lane III returns for a loss of 1 yard to the NAVY 16
Alex Tecza run for 3 yds to the NAVY 19
Braxton Woodson run for 3 yds to the NAVY 22
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Navy Penalty, Delay Of Game (Landon Robinson) to the NAVY 17
Riley Riethman punt for 44 yds , Ja'Marley Riddle returns for 11 yds to the 50 yard line
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Winston Wright Jr. run for 2 yds to the NAVY 48
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 5 yds to the NAVY 43
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Braxton Woodson pass incomplete
Brandon Chatman run for 1 yd to the NAVY 44
Braxton Woodson run for 16 yds to the ECU 40 for a 1ST down
Alex Tecza run for 4 yds to the ECU 36
Eli Heidenreich run for 36 yds for a TD (Nathan Kirkwood KICK)
Lance Gossett kickoff for 51 yds , Jhari Patterson return for 12 yds to the ECU 26
Rahjai Harris run for 3 yds to the ECU 29
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 10 yds to the ECU 39 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the ECU 41
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 10 yds to the NAVY 49 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 4 yds to the NAVY 45
Rahjai Harris run for 13 yds to the NAVY 32 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 1 yd to the NAVY 31
Andrew Conrad 48 yd FG GOOD
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Nathan Kent for 7 yds to the NAVY 32
Alex Tecza run for 7 yds to the NAVY 39 for a 1ST down
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Nathan Kent for 61 yds for a TD (Nathan Kirkwood KICK)
Lance Gossett kickoff for 60 yds , Jhari Patterson return for 17 yds to the ECU 22
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the ECU 24
Katin Houser run for a loss of 1 yard to the ECU 23
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 12 yds to the ECU 35 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
London Montgomery run for 4 yds to the ECU 39
Katin Houser pass incomplete
London Montgomery run for 6 yds to the ECU 45 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 9 yds to the NAVY 46
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the NAVY 44 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 9 yds to the NAVY 35
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the NAVY 31 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 14 yds to the NAVY 17 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 3 yds to the NAVY 14
Rahjai Harris run for 5 yds to the NAVY 9
Katin Houser pass complete to Winston Wright Jr. for 9 yds for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
Brandon Chatman run for 7 yds to the NAVY 32
Daba Fofana run for 1 yd to the NAVY 33
Braxton Woodson pass complete to Brandon Chatman for 2 yds to the NAVY 35 for a 1ST down
Eli Heidenreich run for 27 yds to the ECU 38 for a 1ST down
Braxton Woodson run for 38 yds for a TD (Nathan Kirkwood PAT BLOCKED)
Lance Gossett kickoff for 63 yds , Jhari Patterson return for 19 yds to the ECU 21
Katin Houser pass complete to Tyler Savage for 14 yds to the ECU 35 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass intercepted Kyle Jacob return for 27 yds to the ECU 15
Eli Heidenreich run for 5 yds to the ECU 10
Navy Penalty, False Start (Javan Bouton) to the ECU 8
Braxton Woodson 10 Yd Run (Nathan Kirkwood Kick)
Lance Gossett kickoff for 55 yds , Marlon Gunn Jr. return for 16 yds to the ECU 15
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 16 yds to the ECU 31 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Jhari Patterson for 16 yds to the ECU 47 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 1 yd to the ECU 48
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 52 yds for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
Andrew Conrad kickoff for 9 yds , Gavin Noe return for no gain to the ECU 44
(01:27) [NHSG] Kneel down by WOODSON, Braxton at ECU46 (team loss of 2), clock 01:24.
[NH] Kneel down by WOODSON, Braxton at ECU48 (team loss of 2), clock 00:47.
(00:24) [NH] Kneel down by WOODSON, Braxton at ECU50 (team loss of 2), clock 00:16.