Poinsettia Bowl Recap: Utah Holds Off Navy

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Utah did just enough to fight off a furious comeback by Navy. Utah scored 28 second-half points en route to defeating, Navy 35-32, in the third annual Pointsettia Bowl on Thursday.

San Diego native Darrell Mack rushed for a one-yard score with 1:27 remaining in the game, providing the Utes a 35-25 lead and seemingly sealing a victory. But the Midshipmen, who won the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl two years ago, got a quick 58-yard strike from Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada to Shun White to cut the deficit to 35-32 with 0:57 left in the game. After recovering the ensuing onside kickoff, Navy marched to the Utah 49-yard line before Joe Dale picked off Kaheaku-Enhada's pass to earn Utah's eighth victory in nine games.

The Utes, who struggled offensively in the first half, erased a 10-point second-half deficit with seemingly little effort, scoring three quick touchdowns to build a 28-17 advantage with 12:47 left in the fourth quarter. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson threw for a score and rushed for another, finishing the game completing 18-of-23 passes for 217 yards and throwing one interception. Mack, who went to nearby Monte Vista high school, rushed 23 times for 78 yards and two scores.

Navy cut its deficit to 28-25 when White ran for a 10-yard score with 8:48 remaining, and held Utah out of the end zone on the ensuing drive, stuffing Mack at the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal with 3:40 left. Utah broke a scoreless tie when Mack rushed five yards to give the Utes a 7-0 lead with 8:42 left in the second quarter. Reggie Campbell, who two years ago scored five touchdowns in Navy's victory in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl, was held out of the end zone in this one and rushed for 59 yards on seven carries. Kaheaku-Enhada completed 6-of-11 passes for 63 yards and one touchdown.