Navy Rallies Past Temple 42-35 in Annapolis

Jackson Gutierrez scored five touchdowns, including the go-ahead run with 1:14 left, as Navy overcame a 28-point deficit.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football

Navy Rallies Past Temple 42-35 in Annapolis

Navy defeated Temple 42-35 in Annapolis on Saturday after blowing a 28-point lead. Jackson Gutierrez rushed for a career-high five touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:14 remaining.

Why it matters

The win gives Navy a 3-6 overall record while Temple falls to 2-7. The comeback shows how quickly a late swing can change the outcome of a game.

Gutierrez rushed for 180 yards on 30 carries and threw for 178 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Collins. Smolik threw for 173 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, in the losing effort.

The players

Jackson Gutierrez

Navy running back and quarterback who set a career high with five rushing touchdowns and also threw for 178 yards in the win.

Jaxon Smolik

Temple quarterback who threw three touchdowns and 173 yards in the loss.

The details

Navy led 28-0 after four Gutierrez touchdown runs before Temple scored 21 fourth-quarter points to tie the game. After a failed Navy fake punt, Smolik threw a 25-yard touchdown pass with 5 1/2 minutes left, and Navy answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive ending in Gutierrez's 4-yard run. JoJo Bermudez's 78-yard punt return on the final play of the first half had also helped Navy build its margin.

Saturday: Navy defeats Temple 42-35 in Annapolis.
Next Saturday: Temple hosts UAB.
Nov. 21: Navy hosts Memphis.

Season Trajectory

Navy's ground-heavy approach produced the comeback, reinforcing an offensive identity built on the option. The victory keeps Navy's season moving toward a late-season stretch that includes a home game against Memphis.

Gutierrez's dual-threat production made him a must-start option for fantasy rosters in this matchup. Fans tracking Navy's remaining schedule should note the Nov. 21 home game against Memphis.

The takeaway

Late-game resilience can outweigh a large early deficit, as Navy showed by erasing a 28-point hole against Temple. Tracking how teams respond after giving up a lead can reveal more about their season than the final score alone.