While the Terp offense controlled the first quarter of the state rivalry game at M&T Bank Stadium, Navy came out firing in the second, scoring a touchdown less than 40 seconds in.
The Terps gave the Midshipmen an opening to turn the game in their favor when quarterback Jamarr Robinson negated a 27-yard rush with an interception in the red zone that allowed the Navy to mount another charge. The Midshipmen took an eight minute march downfield, moving methodically to the opposite end zone. They appeared poised to tie the game.
But with Navy one yard away from the end zone, Terp linebacker Adrian Moten forced the ball from the arms of Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs as the defense forced him back. Safety Antwine Perez scooped it up at the 6-yard line. The Midshipmen saw a 17-play, 63-yard drive wiped out.
The Terps could not capitalize on the opportunity, though, punting the ball away without a first down.
Even with a disappointing series, the Terps came close to getting another shot; Navy’s Gary Myers nearly muffed the return when the ball hit off his facemask. But the Midshipmen ended up with the ball on the 32-yard line.
Navy regained their momentum and got into the red zone again.
With 12 seconds left and seven yards from the goal, Navy called a timeout to plan their attack as the half wound down. Dobbs ran for a five-yard gain but fumbled at the 2-yard line. Though he recovered, his team watched the rest of the time tick away amid the chaos, wasting the chance for either a field goal try or a shot at the end zone and sending the Terps into halftime still seven points ahead.
The most significant stat of the game so far? Navy has scored on just one of four red zone opportunities.