CHARLOTTE, N.C.-The Navy defense pitched its second shutout of the year, while freshman quarterback
Braxton Woodson came off the bench for an injured
Tai Lavatai and led Navy to 14 second half points as the Mids (3-3, 2-2 in the AAC) defeated Charlotte (1-5, 0-2) 14-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 15,659 fans at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte.
The game was scoreless at the half, but Woodson, who replaced Lavatai in the second series of the first quarter, hit sophomore slot back
Eli Heidenreich with a 69-yard touchdown pass on Navy's first drive of the third quarter to give the Mids a 7-0 lead.
Woodson's touchdown pass came on third-and-14 from its own 31 and he threw a laser between two defenders and Heidenreich took it the remaining 55 yards for a touchdown.
The Navy defense was sensational all day holding the 49ers to 265 yards of total offense. The Mids broke up a season-high six passes , recorded seven tackles for a loss, four sacks and picked off two passes, while also recovering a fumble. It is the first time since 2008 that Navy has recorded two shutouts in a season.
Navy put the game away on the first drive of the fourth quarter as sophomore fullback
Alex Tecza burst through a hole on the left side and went 62 yards for a touchdown.
Senior linebacker
Will Harbour led the Navy defense with a career-high tying 11 tackles, while junior defensive back Mbiti Williams recorded a career-high nine tackles for the second-consecutive game and junior corner
Dashaun Peele had a career-high eight stops.
Junior defensive end
Justin Reed recovered the fumble that junior linebacker
Colin Ramos forced, while Peele and junior safety Rayuan Lane had an interception.
Tecza ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while Woodson finished with 58 yards rushing on 18 carries, while completing 5 of his 14 pass attempts for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Navy retuns to action next Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against Air Force in the first leg of the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy competition. Kickoff is set for 12 noon and the game will be televised nationally by CBS.
