Navy continued its remarkable season with a commanding 51-17 victory over Charlotte on Saturday, improving to 6-0 for the first time since 1979. The Midshipmen, ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll, were bolstered by a historic performance from cornerback Dashaun Peele, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The win also marked Navy’s fourth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), keeping them in strong contention for the conference title and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Historic Defensive Effort Leads the Way
Navy’s defense set the tone early in the game, forcing four turnovers in the first half alone and capitalizing on Charlotte’s mistakes. Senior cornerback Dashaun Peele made history by becoming the first player in Navy football history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. Peele’s 61-yard return in the first quarter and 84-yard return in the second contributed to Navy’s dominant 38-0 lead before halftime.
“It’s really about being in the right place at the right time,” Peele said after the game. “We worked on those plays all week, and when the opportunities came, I had to take advantage.”
Linebacker Kyle Jacob and safety Ray Lane also contributed to Navy’s defensive onslaught. Jacob recorded an interception and recovered a fumble, while Lane had an interception and forced a fumble as well. Navy forced a total of five turnovers, the most since 2019.
Quick Start on Offense
Navy’s offense took full advantage of the defense’s efforts, starting fast with three touchdowns in the first quarter, all courtesy of fullback Alex Tecza. Tecza scored twice on short runs and once on a 46-yard reception from quarterback Blake Horvath…