ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy men's rugby team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 78-0 victory over service academy rival Air Force (0-1) at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis on Friday evening, retaining the Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup for the eighth-consecutive meeting.
 
"The occasion itself is incredibly special," Navy director of rugby Gavin Hickie said. "Playing Air Force, a fellow service academy, at home on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. It really increased the significance of celebrating and remembering the occasion."
 
The Midshipmen secured their first back-to-back shutouts since the 2023-24 season when they blanked Notre Dame (78-0) and Delaware (117-0). The victory also made a mark in the record books, as the 78 points and 12 tries tied for the fourth most in program history. Additionally, the nine conversions tied for third most and the 78-point margin of victory matched the third largest in school history.
 
Five Midshipmen led the offense, each recording two tries on the afternoon. Andrew Baublitz, Ian Bullock, Sean Donohue, Jake Cornelius and Adam Mertens combined for 10 of Navy's scores. Flyhalf Kade Williams paced the kicking game, hitting seven conversions to add 14 points to the board.
 
Dalton Sand and Noah Wiidakas each added a try to round out the scoring. Sam Pirkl also came off the bench to make a pair of second-half conversion kicks.
 
Navy took control early following an Air Force knock-on penalty. Efficient passing set up Baublitz for the opening try in the fifth minute. Bullock extended the lead in the ninth minute, scoring off a lineout maul to make it 14-0.
 
The defense continued to pressure Air Force into turnovers, keeping the action on the Falcons' side of the field, where Donohue capitalized on an intercepted lineout for a try in the 18th minute. Navy kept the offense moving and Sand collected a pass from a 5-meter maul for the fourth try of the match in the 25th minute, putting Navy up 26-0.
 
Bullock broke through the defensive line just two minutes later for his second try of the game. Taking advantage of an Air Force yellow card, Donohue passed out of a 5-meter scrum to Cornelius, who scored in the 35th minute. Baublitz then ran in untouched following a stolen lineout right at the halftime whistle, giving Navy a 45-0 advantage at the break.
 
The Midshipmen kept the momentum in the second half. A strong run deep into Air Force territory by Baublitz set up Cornelius for his second score of the night in the 45th minute. Mertens followed up in the 47th minute, breaking away down the sideline to push the lead to 59-0.
 
Navy continued to control possession as the half progressed. Following a stolen lineout, Cornelius found Mertens open for a try in the 54th minute. Donohue then scored directly from a Navy scrum for his second try in the 59th minute, extending the lead to 71-0 after Pirkl's conversion.
 
Navy's reserves provided the final score of the game. Pirkl passed to an open Wiidakas for a try in the 62nd minute to cap off the 78-0 shutout.
 
"It's really satisfying to see these young guys getting fully integrated into the squad," Hickie said. "We're focused on their development and they are putting in the effort."
 
Navy will hit the road for the first time next week when it travels to Mary Washington for the first Rugby East Conference showdown of the season. The Midshipmen and the Eagles are set to square off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 19.
 
Box Score
4:40 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (5-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (7-0)
 
8:39 – Try – Navy – Ian Bullock (12-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (14-0)
 
17:20 – Try – Navy – Sean Donohue (19-0)
 
24:06 – Try – Navy – Dalton Sand (24-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (26-0)
 
26:37 – Try – Navy – Ian Bullock (31-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (33-0)
 
34:09 – Try – Navy – Jake Cornelius (38-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (40-0)
 
40:00 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (45-0)
 
44:30 – Try – Navy – Jake Cornelius (50-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (52-0)
 
47:00 – Try – Navy – Adam Mertens (57-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (59-0)
 
53:12 – Try – Navy – Adam Mertens (64-0)
 
59:00 – Try – Navy – Sean Donohue (69-0)
Conversion kick – Sam Pirkl (71-0)
 
61:59 – Try – Navy – Noah Wiidakas (76-0)
Conversion kick – Sam Pirkl (78-0)