Navy uses second-half rally to beat SMU 28-21

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Alexander Teich ran for a career-high 95 yards and two touchdowns, including the tiebreaking score with 1:38 left, and Navy rallied to beat SMU 28-21 on Saturday.

Navy (4-2) scored 21 straight points in the second half to take a 21-14 lead. After SMU tied it, Tyler Simmons intercepted a pass by Kyle Padron with 1:50 remaining set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Teich.

Padron went 28 for 42 for 254 yards and three touchdowns for SMU (4-3), which led 14-0 early in the second quarter. The Mustangs have lost 20 consecutive non-conference road games, a streak that began after a win against Navy in 1998.

Darius Johnson had 12 catches for 104 yards for SMU, now 1-7 against Navy since 1995.

The Mustangs moved 57 yards in 10 plays to tie it at 21 with 2:51 to go. Padron kept the drive alive by completing a 14-yard pass to Johnson on a fourth-and-4, then hit Aldrick Robinson for a 10-yard score on a third-and-7.

After SMU forced Navy to punt, Padron's first pass was picked off by Simmons and returned six yards to the SMU 13.

Navy mounted its first scoring drive immediately after halftime with the aid of a seldom-used weapon: the forward pass. Facing a third-and-17 at his own 12, Ricky Dobbs completed a 51-yard pass to Aaron Santiago. Then, on fourth-and-goal from the 3, Dobbs connected with Santiago in the back of the end zone.

The Midshipmen took a more traditional approach on their next possession, moving 80 yards on nine straight runs to draw even at 14. Wide receiver Greg Jones ran 33 yards on a reverse, and Gee Gee Greene finished with a 1-yard dive.

With the momentum on its side, Navy got a big play from its defense. Pressed out of the pocket, Padron fumbled when hit by linebacker Jerry Hauburger, and defensive end Jabaree Tuani recovered the ball at the SMU 31.

That set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Teich with 12:52 left.

Padron threw for 135 yards and SMU limited the Midshipmen to 124 yards in offense in the first half.

Navy endured a futile opening drive: Soon after Santiago dropped a potential 37-yard touchdown pass in the end zone, Dobbs came up short on a fourth-and-3 run.

SMU then moved 71 yards in seven plays and took a 7-0 lead on Padron's 5-yard touchdown pass to Cole Beasley.

After a Navy punt, Padron used his arm and legs to engineer a 74-yard drive. He ran twice for 24 yards and completed four passes for 39 yards, including a 4-yard TD pass to Johnson that made it 14-0 with 10:05 left in the second quarter.