Navy vs Towson ended 42-15 after a punishing rushing display in Annapolis on September 5. Braxton Woodson ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns in Navy’s 2026 season opener, as reported by Baltimore Chronicle. The Naval Academy Athletics confirmed the career-best performance.
Braxton Woodson takes control of Navy’s offense
Woodson carried 23 times and averaged 8.7 yards per attempt. His touchdowns came from 38, 8 and 4 yards.
The senior quarterback became Navy’s first 200-yard rusher since Blake Horvath recorded 211 against Memphis in September 2024.
Woodson did not need a heavy passing workload. Towson repeatedly left space for Navy’s option attack, and Navy exploited it.
Head coach Brian Newberry praised Woodson’s decisions. He said the quarterback simply took what Towson’s defense offered.
Navy rushing attack reaches historic territory
Navy finished with 506 rushing yards from 73 attempts. That total ranked 12th in program history.
| Statistic | Navy |
|---|---|
| Final score | 42-15 |
| Rushing yards | 506 |
| Total offense | 527 yards |
| First downs | 30 |
| Time of possession | 39:50 |
The Midshipmen had not rushed for more yards since producing 559 against SMU in 2017. Their 73 attempts also showed how completely Navy controlled possession.
Navy scored touchdowns on 6 of 9 possessions. It converted all 3 fourth-down attempts.
How Navy built the 42-15 lead
Woodson opened the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown run. Vic Listorti then added a 35-yard score for his first career touchdown.
Towson answered twice before halftime, but Navy responded each time.
The decisive scoring sequence included:
- Woodson’s second touchdown with 24 seconds before halftime;
- Jackson Gutierrez’s 2-yard touchdown after the break;
- Woodson’s third score midway through the fourth quarter.
Navy entered halftime ahead 28-12 and never allowed Towson back into the game. Gutierrez finished with 2 rushing touchdowns.
Navy defense shuts down Towson’s running game
Towson generated only 39 rushing yards from 20 attempts. The Tigers finished with 246 total yards.
Quarterback Andrew Indorf threw for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, Towson converted only 2 of 8 third downs.
MarcAnthony Parker led Navy with 9 tackles. Marcus Bleazard, Aiden Lyczek and Connor Young each recorded sacks.
Newberry still identified defensive communication problems after the victory. His message was pointed: the score should not disguise areas needing improvement.
What comes next for Navy football
The win gave Navy a third consecutive season-opening victory. It was the program’s first such streak since 2015-17.
A crowd of 32,654 attended the game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It was Navy’s largest home-opener attendance since 2013.
Navy now travels to Boca Raton for its September 12 game against Florida Atlantic. That matchup offers the first road test of Woodson’s new role.
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