The Midshipmen scored a lightning-quick touchdown on the game’s opening possession, then put together a pair of time-consuming drives that kept the Cougars’ potent offense off the field.
Meanwhile, Navy played bend-but-don’t-break defense to perfection, stopping Houston on downs and forcing a missed field-goal attempt on two possessions that pushed deep into Midshipmen territory.
Unfortunately for Navy, the offense went back into a shell in the second half and that put too much pressure on the defense, which just could not hold off the Cougars any longer.
Quarterback Clayton Tune completed 22 of 31 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, while tailbacks Alton McKaskill and Ta’Zhawn Henry combined to rush for 128 yards and two touchdowns as Houston escaped with a 28-20 victory at TDECU Stadium.