ANNAPOLIS, Md. – BYU (5-1) opened the match scoring the first two tries to take an early 14-0 lead. The Navy men's rugby team (10-1) used a 33-point unanswered run to overcome the early deficit to cap off the fall season with a, 43-28, victory Saturday afternoon at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis.

"We were aware that BYU was going to bring the fire, we weren't panicking when they [BYU] scored the early tries, we knew it could happen," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "What I was most pleased was we went into halftime with the lead, these men were absolutely outstanding today from start to finish. We gave up a few too many points for our own liking, but we beat one of the best teams in the country in a convincing fashion."

In the 52nd minute Roanin Krieger tossed a long pass to Andrew Baublitz who out ran a Cougars defender for his 26th career try. Baublitz passed Ben Haugh for the most tries in program history. "The tries came from my teammates who trusted me with the ball. Seeing my teammates and coaches' reaction after a try is amazing, no matter if it's my first try or the 26th try and seeing them run up to me is the greatest reaction ever," said Baublitz.

"Andrew Baublitz is going to leave here as the highest try scorer of all-time and it's going to be a very hard record to break," remarked Hickie on Baublitz record setting day. "He'll be the first to say that he's able to score those points because the other 14 players around him did their job. Baublitz is one of the most special players we have and its tough to stop him."

The first 20 minutes was all BYU controlling the possession and pace of the match with a pair of tries. The Cougars pick and go offense was consistent in Navy's 22-meter zone for their first try of the match in the fourth minute. BYU used its size advantage in the forward position to grind its way for the second try in the 21st minute to take a 14-0 lead.

The Mids offense struggled early to garnered a solid possession as each drive ended with a penalty or turning the ball over.

Navy's 33-point unanswered run began in the 25th minute when it had its first trip into the Cougars' 22-meter zone. Avion Ganse maneuvered his way into the five-meter zone and strong offloading passing allowed Kade Williams to score his second try of the season to put the Mids on the board, 14-7.

The Midshipmen added two more tries in the 29th and 40th minutes to battle back and take a 21-14 lead going into halftime. Tanner Russell broke through the Cougars defense from an offloading pass from Krieger for the teams' second try of the match. The Mids capitalized off a man up advantage thanks to a BYU yellow card, senior team co-captain William Webb registered his fifth score of the season in the final minute of the half.

Navy's momentum carried over into the second half with two tries in a span of four minutes, including Baublitz' record setting try. It was a team effort for the Mids' try in the 48th minute as they showed their strength mauling their way five meters for the score.

The Cougars added two tries in the 63rd and 69th minutes. The 28 points in the match was a season-low for BYU, it previously scored 65 points in every match this season before Saturday's loss.

"I am so proud of these young men. We have a plan every week and these men for the most part deliver on that plan, I'm so proud of these Midshipmen," Hickie said. "We know BYU is very good at scoring points but we are DOD, defense is what we do. We relish defending and that's very important to us."

Junior Aidan Bryan scored his first career try in the 66th minute. In a play setup by JD Bengston scampering deep into Cougars territory, Bryan would bulldoze his way for the try.

Box Score

Navy 40, BYU 28

First Half

4:12 – Try – BYU (0-5)

Conversion kick (0-7)

20:42 – Try – BYU (0-12)

Conversion kick (0-14)

24:32 – Try – Navy – Kade Williams (5-14)

Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (7-14)

28:10 – Try – Navy – Tanner Russell (12-14)

Conversion kick (14-14)

39:58 – Try – Navy – William Webb (19-14)

Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (21-14)

Second Half

47:10 – Try – Navy (26-14)

51:59 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baulitz (31-14)

Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (33-14)

62:05 – Try – BYU (33-19)

Conversion kick (33-21)

65:10 – Try – Aidan Bryan (38-21)

Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (40-21)

68:29 – Try – BYU (40-26)

Conversion kick (40-28)