Florida Atlantic beat Navy 38-30 on Saturday as quarterback Caden Veltkamp completed 27 of 32 passes for 386 yards and five touchdowns, with his 36-yard strike to Easton Messer in the first quarter giving the Owls a lead they never surrendered.
Messer finished with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Florida Atlantic offense, while Kelby Valsin added eight catches for 115 yards and a score. For Navy, the triple-option attack generated legitimate yardage — Braxton Woodson ran 12 times for 96 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 47 yards, while Jackson Gutierrez accounted for two passing touchdowns and rushed for 75 more yards — but the Midshipmen could not keep pace with the Owls' aerial assault.
Florida Atlantic controlled the game from the moment Veltkamp connected with Messer over the middle to put the Owls up 14-7 early, a lead the home team never relinquished. Navy generated 30 points and moved the ball at times, but a Vic Listorti fumble and a Woodson interception contributed to the Midshipmen's inability to complete a comeback.
Navy, which committed a turnover on a missed field goal attempt from Nolan Bartley in addition to the other miscues, will return to action Friday, September 25 against UAB.