In a game dominated by offense, it was Navy?s defense that made the biggest play.
Navy got a 20-yard Joey Bullen field goal on the first possession of the second overtime and held Pitt on four straight plays from the 2-yard line to come away with a dramatic, 48-45, win on Wednesday night at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Midshipmen secured the victory when cornerback Rashawn King patted down a pass in the corner of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.
Pitt (2-4) scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Pat Bostick during the first overtime period, but Navy (4-2) sent the game to a second extra session when quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada connected with slot back Reggie Campbell for a 25-yard touchdown on its first play.
Navy opened the scoring nearly six minutes into the first quarter when Campbell took a pitch and dashed 4 yards to give the Mids a 7-0 lead. But Pitt would answer on its next possession when fullback Conredge Collins rushed in from 2 yards out.
The second quarter saw both teams get into the end zone twice. Campbell was on the receiving end of a 7-yard touchdown pass from Kaheaku-Enhada, which gave the Mids a 14-7 advantage. The Panthers responded with a 45-yard kickoff return and knotted the score at 14-14 when running back LeSean McCoy dove across the goal line from 2 yards out.
Navy then went 65 yards in just 10 plays to re-take the lead, 21-14, on a 2-yard touchdown run from fullback Adam Ballard.
Pitt tied the game, for the third time in the first half, when Bostick found receiver Oderick Turner from 4 yards out with just 40 seconds left before intermission.
Early in the third quarter, Pitt went ahead, 28-21, when McCoy powered his way into the end zone from 2 yards out for his second score. But the Midshipmen answered quickly on the ensuing possession when Shun White took a pitch into the end zone from 1 yard out.
The Panthers pulled back ahead, 31-28, when kicker Connor Lee made a 23-yard field goal. But with only 19 seconds left in the third quarter, Kaheaku-Enhada scored from 3 yards out to give the Midshipmen a 35-31 lead.
With 10:45 left in the game, McCoy found the end zone for the third time, making the score 38-35 in favor of Pitt with a 21-yard touchdown run. Kicker Joey Bullen would tie the score at 38-38 when he made a 36-yard field goal with 4:57 remaining.
