Braxton Woodson leads Navy to victory with three fourth-quarter touchdowns

On Friday, November 28, 2024, in Greenville, North Carolina, the Navy Midshipmen triumphed over the East Carolina Pirates with a final score of 34-20. Braxton Woodson was the standout player, as he significantly impacted the game with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. The game saw Navy take a dominant lead early in the fourth quarter when Woodson connected on a 61-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Kent, extending Navy's lead to 21-6 with just over ten minutes remaining. This crucial moment laid the groundwork for Navy's eventual victory. As East Carolina fought to stay competitive, they mounted a 16-play, 78-yard drive, which was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Katin Houser to Winston Wright Jr., narrowing the score to 21-13 with five minutes left in the game. However, the Midshipmen quickly responded to maintain their momentum. Woodson showcased his running ability, breaking free for a 38-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes remaining, further stretching Navy's lead to 27-13. Following an interception thrown by Houser, Woodson capped the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run, bringing the final score to 34-20. Woodson's overall performance was impressive, completing 12 of 19 passes for a total of 165 yards, and rushing for 125 yards on 15 carries. His efforts were complemented by Eli Heidenreich, who added 82 yards on the ground, including a 36-yard touchdown run earlier in the game. The Midshipmen's explosive fourth quarter contrasted sharply with the previously tight match, demonstrating their resilience and capability to perform under pressure. On the other side, Katin Houser for East Carolina had a solid outing, completing 20 of 36 passes for 219 yards, delivering two touchdown passes but also throwing an interception in a critical moment of the game. This defeat ended East Carolina’s four-game win streak and capped off their regular season at an overall record of 7-5 and 5-3 in the American Athletic Conference. In contrast, Navy improved to an 8-3 record, winning two of their last three games. The Midshipmen will be gearing up for a showdown with conference leader Army on December 14, as they seek to build on this victory.