Navy football’s new Wing-T offense put forth a second straight impressive performance to start the season, displaying tremendous diversity and big-play ability in piling up the yards and points.

However, the defense deserves as much or more credit for the Midshipmen posting another convincing victory Saturday before an announced crowd of 28,889 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a dominant defensive effort as Navy routed visiting Temple, 38-11, in the American Athletic Conference opener for both programs. Ramos, the senior defensive captain, recorded 15 tackles and the defense made a ton of big plays in totally shutting down the Owls.

Cornerback Ira Oniha had six tackles, a clutch pass breakup that prevented a touchdown and a forced fumble for Navy (2-0), which held Temple three points until there were 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Outside linebackers Jaxson Campbell and Kenneth McShan notched interceptions for the Mids, who limited the Owls to 193 total yards through three quarters.

“I thought defensively we really flew around and competed. We gave up some stuff underneath, but we didn’t give up any explosive plays. The plan was to make them earn it and I thought we did that today,” said Navy coach Brian Newberry, noting that Temple’s run game was “nonexistent.”

Navy avenged last season’s embarrassing 32-18 loss to Temple in Philadelphia. Members of the Midshipmen’s defense in particular said they had this contest circled after getting picked apart by quarterback E.J. Warner.

“It was pretty personal because of last year, so this was a big one,” Ramos said. “The main focus was on ourselves and coming out the right way as a defense, and I think we did that.”

Newberry said defensive coordinator P.J. Volker beat himself up about the game plan against Temple a year ago.

“I thought [Volker] called a brilliant game today. He put our guys in the right positions and we executed well for the most part,” Newberry said.

Quarterback Blake Horvath was the sparkplug of a Navy offense that amassed 409 total yards. Horvath rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries before leaving the game late in the third quarter. He also completed 5 of 9 passes for 112 yards and a score.

Horvath became the first Navy quarterback to surpass 100 rushing and passing yards since Tai Lavatai accomplished the feat against SMU in 2022.

“I thought Blake did a nice job and played really well. He threw some nice balls,” Newberry said. “One thing about Blake — as he gets more and more confident, he’s going to get better and better.”

Snipe Eli Heidenreich had another big game with four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Alex Tecza made his presence known with 92 rushing yards on just nine carries.

Horvath took an option keeper 62 yards for a touchdown on a first down play early in the second quarter. On Navy’s next possession, Tecza broke a fullback dive 65 yards for a score on first down. Heidenreich later added a 51-yard reception that got Navy off its own goal line.

“We have a bunch of skill players that when they get the ball they can go to the house with it,” Newberry said.

It’s been an explosive start to the season for the Wing-T offense brought to Annapolis by first-year coordinator Drew Cronic as Navy is averaging 43.5 points and 423 total yards through two games.

“I knew Drew was going to do a great job. He’s a proven winner whose had success everywhere he’s been, scored a lot of points everywhere he’s been,” Newberry said. “Just a really good football coach and a really good person. He’s got these guys believing in what we’re doing.”

Temple’s Forrest Brock completed 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown to lead Temple (0-2), which has been outscored 90-13 in two games this season. The Owls were completely one-dimensional, managing only 35 rushing yards against the stout front seven of the Midshipmen.

Navy’s defense put the first points on the board. With the Owls backed up inside their 10, Brock could not handle the shotgun snap and the ball rolled into the end zone. Brock was able to recover, but was drilled by Justin Reed and knocked out of bounds for a safety.

Isaiah Bryant returned the subsequent free kick 21 yards to give Navy great field position. Horvath then directed an efficient 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive the quarterback capped himself with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone.

Things got worse for Temple on its third possession as Navy outside linebacker Jaxson Campbell made a great read and jumped in front of an attempted slant pass to record his first career interception. Navy needed only one play to capitalize on the turnover with Horvath taking an option keeper around the left side, picking up a great block by tight end Jake Norris and racing down the sideline 62 yards to paydirt. Kicker Nathan Kirkwood made his second extra point to increase the lead to 16-0 .

After a Temple three-and-out, Navy produced its second straight one-play touchdown drive. Tecza did an impressive job of maintaining balance and staying on his feet while shaking off a tackle attempt on a dive play. Tecza broke loose and found no defenders between himself and the goal line, racing 65 yards to the end zone to make it 23-0.

Temple mounted a late drive that produced a 36-yard field goal by Maddux Trujillo and went into halftime trailing 23-3.

Navy got the ball to start the second half and promptly mounted an impressive nine-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that featured a nice mixture of plays. It started with a reverse that wide receiver Nathan Kent took 17 yards for a quick first down. Horvath gained another 17 yards on consecutive keepers to bring the ball into Temple territory.

Three plays later, Cronic made a great call that produced a 31-yard scoring strike. Horvath faked to the fullback and carried the ball outside with a pitch man trailing on what looked like a triple-option play. However, Horvath abruptly pulled up, set his feet and found Heidenreich racing wide-open down the seam.

Heidenreich caught the pass in stride and waltzed into the end zone. Newberry called for the two-point conversion and Horvath completed a swing pass to Chatman to give Navy a commanding 31-3 lead.

There were more heroics from the Navy defense on the ensuing possession after Temple converted on fourth down in its own territory. Brock completed a pass to speedy wide receiver Ashton Allen and cornerback Mbiti Williams missed the tackle attempt.

Allen, an Odenton resident who initially attended USC on a track and field scholarship, raced down the sideline and seemed headed for the end zone, but cornerback Ira Oniha made a great hustle play and knocked him out of bounds at the 7-yard line after a 47-yard gain.

However, Navy held and forced a turnover on downs.

Horvath later iced the game with an 18-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.