Temple has no answers for the explosive run game of Navy QB Jackson Gutierrez
Gutierrez ran for five touchdowns and added a passing TD including a game-winning touchdown.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Temple rallied from a 28-point deficit against Navy, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the Owls found themselves on the losing end of a 42-35 final at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
In the fourth quarter, Temple (2-7, 1-4 American) trailed by just seven points, but Jackson Gutierrez, Navy’s (3-6, 2-4) versatile quarterback, who rushed for five touchdowns and threw for one, put the nail in the proverbial coffin with a minute remaining.
“Digging yourself out of a hole is more about execution than anything else,” said coach K.C. Keeler after the loss. “We battled; they’re starting to understand the concept of playing just one snap at a time… so disappointed for the kids because that was an amazing comeback.”
Battle of quarterbacks
Gutierrez was the focus entering Week 9. He ranked No. 4 in the nation with 13 rushing touchdowns.
The Owls gave him a helping hand to start. Temple received the kickoff, but Avery Powell muffed the return for Gage Leonard to bring it to Temple’s 23-yard line. Gutierrez finished the job six plays later with a one yard rush, capitalizing on Navy’s first fumble recovery of the season.
Owls quarterback Jaxon Smolik was sacked on third down on Temple’s ifirst full drive. Navy would capitalize after Jordan Collins caught a 63-yard bomb from Gutierrez, leaving Temple’s secondary in the dust. Gutierrez slowly brought it home with another 1-yard run.
Smolik threw for 131 yards in the second half after just 42 in the first. He found Jojo Bermudez once and Jayce Freeman twice in the game’s final 30 minutes.
Gutierrez added three more rushing touchdowns and floated a 49-yard touchdown pass to Collins. Gutierrez totaled 358 all-purpose yards and Smolik threw three touchdowns on a 46% completion rate.
“I need to start faster,” Smolik said. “Football is start fast, finish strong, and I need to start a lot faster and be more comfortable.”
Rushing takeover
Temple has built its reputation on rushing. Navy easily outpaced it with running back Michael Barrow’s help.
The Owls’ defense couldn’t contain his sweeps across the scrimmage line, halfback tosses, or his blockers. Barrow stuck to the Midshipmen’s slow and methodical approach on carries, but he still threw together multiple big plays.
One of his second quarter carries broke Temple’s lid.
At its 23-yard line, Temple forced Navy to kick a field goal on fourth-and-6. But linebacker Curly Ordonez was flagged five yards, allowing Navy to go for it. Barrow rushed 12 yards which led to Gutierrez’s third touchdown.
Owls’ revival
Temple was almost blanked in the first 30 minutes until wide receiver Jojo Bermudez received a punt, and with 10 seconds left, he dashed past 11 guys for a 78-yard return and touchdown.
“Jojo Bermudez put us on his shoulders,” Keeler said. “That play he made at the end of the half, you could just feel the energy in the locker room. Like, we were gonna come out and get this thing done.”
His next score took two seconds less. Smolik connected with Bermudez at Navy’s 43-yard line, who split the defense before trimming the deficit to 14.
After Bermudez returned for 53 yards, the Owls scored on three consecutive drives, leading to Freeman’s reception to tie it at 35.
It still wouldn’t be enough. Gutierrez dashed through the middle for 39 yards on second down before he ended it with a four yard rush.
Up Next...
Temple hosts Ala.-Birmingham at Lincoln Financial Field next Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN+).
