MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a stunning Thanksgiving Day upset, the Navy Midshipmen executed their signature triple-option offense to near perfection, controlling the clock and the game in a 28 to 17 victory over the Memphis Tigers on Thursday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

The win, fueled by a dominant ground attack and a stifling defensive effort in the second half, improved Navy’s record to 9-2, while Memphis fell to 8-4. The result defied pregame projections, as Navy entered as a 3.5-point underdog and was given only a 26 percent chance to win by statistical models.

The game was a tale of two halves, with a frenetic second quarter giving way to a methodical, clock-chewing display by the Midshipmen after halftime. Memphis struck first, capitalizing on a long opening drive that culminated in a 31-yard field goal from Gianni Spetic midway through the first quarter.

Navy’s offense, which had sputtered on its first possession, found its rhythm in the second quarter. Quarterback Blake Horvath of Hilliard, Ohio, engineered a decisive 11-play, 80-yard drive, capping it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Evans to give Navy its first lead at 7 to 3.

Memphis responded immediately. Tigers quarterback Brendon Lewis of Melissa, Texas, led his team on an 11-play, 75-yard march of his own, finishing it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Adcock to reclaim the lead at 10 to 7.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Navy answered right back. A 46-yard completion from Horvath to Eli Heidenreich set up the Midshipmen deep in Memphis territory, and fullback Alex Tecza of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, powered in from 2 yards out to put Navy back on top 14 to 10.

Just before the half, Lewis connected with Cortez Braham Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland, on a spectacular 38-yard touchdown strike with 1:43 remaining, sending the Tigers into the locker room with a 17 to 14 advantage and all the momentum.

That momentum evaporated after halftime as Navy’s defense took over. The Midshipmen completely shut down the Memphis offense in the second half, forcing a series of punts and sacks. The Tigers managed just 36 total yards of offense after the break, with Lewis being sacked five times.

Meanwhile, the Navy offense embarked on a marathon, 17-play, 80-yard drive that consumed over nine minutes of the third-quarter clock. The drive, comprised entirely of running plays, was capped by Tecza’s 12-yard touchdown run, giving Navy a lead it would not relinquish at 21 to 17.

Navy sealed the victory with another long, grinding drive in the fourth quarter. A 14-play, 73-yard march that took over seven minutes off the clock was finished by Horvath on a 2-yard quarterback keeper, extending the lead to 28 to 17 with 5:53 remaining.

Memphis’s final attempts to mount a comeback were thwarted by the relentless Navy pass rush, which recorded three sacks on the Tigers’ last desperate possession.

Tecza was the workhorse for Navy, carrying the ball 26 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Horvath was efficient, completing 5 of 9 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown while adding 54 rushing yards and another score on the ground.

For Memphis, Lewis finished 19 of 36 for 172 yards with two touchdowns, but was consistently under pressure. The Navy defense was led by MarcAnthony Parker with eight tackles and Luke Pirris, who recorded seven tackles and two sacks. Memphis linebacker Sam Brumfield had a game-high 17 tackles in a losing effort.

The victory marks a significant achievement for Navy, which has now won nine games in a season. For Memphis, the loss concludes its regular season ahead of bowl announcements.