Florida Atlantic Defeated by Navy

Saturday, October 25

Annapolis, Md.

3:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

3-5 , 2-3

Navy

7-0 , 5-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Fla. Atlantic

Navy

10/25/2025 8:49:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ben Paul

Annapolis, MD. – Despite a late-game rally, the Florida Atlantic football team fell to Navy on Saturday afternoon by a score of 42-32.

The Owls (3-5, 2-3) were a formidable opponent against the only undefeated team in the American Conference in the Midshipmen (7-0, 5-0), maintaining a one-score game at halftime and scoring three touchdowns in the final six minutes.

VIDEO RECAP

FIRST HALF
Florida Atlantic marched right into opposing territory on the opening drive, culminating in redshirt junior QB Caden Veltkamp hitting redshirt junior WR Jayshon Platt on a 43-yard strike in the end zone. Navy responded with two touchdowns of its own to take a 14-7 lead. Platt made a second 40+ yard grab later in the quarter to put the Owls in the red zone, leading to a 30-yard field goal from redshirt senior K Garrison Smith.

Navy struck back with a touchdown to open the second quarter before Smith added another field goal to bring the game within one possession. The Owls' defense later forced a fumble, recovered by sophomore DL Gavench Marcelin, but could not capitalize.

The Midshipmen found themselves with the ball on FAU's one-yard line with the first half clock winding down. On third-and-goal, redshirt junior DL CJ Doggette Jr. and redshirt sophomore DL Eric Brantley Jr. combined for a run stuff. Navy went for it on fourth down as time expired and could not convert thanks to a touchdown-saving tackle from redshirt senior S Dillion Williams, sending the Owls to the locker room trailing 21-13.

SECOND HALF
Starting the half on defense, Williams made his second fourth down stop, pitching in on a tackle to set FAU up on its own 40-yard line. The third quarter remained scoreless with the Owls trailing by eight entering the fourth.

Navy scored two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to build a double-digit lead. Florida Atlantic found the end zone three more times, first with sophomore RB KadenShields-Dutton muscling his way in on a two-yard reception.

With three minutes remaining, redshirt sophomore WR Jabari Smith Jr. scored from four yards out on the throw from graduate QB Zach Gibson, his first touchdown pass as an Owl. FAU recovered the onside kick and Gibson found Smith once again, this time a nine-yarder, to bring the score to 42-32.

OFFENSE

The Owls' offense has scored on their opening possession in five-straight games, the first unit to do so in program history.
Platt's 121 yards are his career high and he ended the night with 202 all-purpose yards.
Redshirt junior WR Easton Messer had a game-best eight catches.
Smith Jr.'s multi-touchdown outing is the first of his career.

DEFENSE

Redshirt junior LB Tyler Stolsky logged 13 tackles, his third-straight game with 12+. He is the first Owl to do so since Azeez Al-Shaair in 2017.
Williams added nine tackles, his most as an Owl.
Marcelin recorded his first career takeaway.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley

Redshirt Junior WR Jayshon Platt

Sophomore DL Gavench Marcelin

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (10-25-2025) Florida Atlantic at Navy

UP NEXT
The Owls will have a bye weekend, next taking the field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8 against Tulsa. The game will serve as FAU's homecoming and will also be Veterans Appreciation and Varsity Owls weekend.

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