MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Chris Swain ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns and Navy upset No. 15 Memphis, 45-20, on Saturday night, ending the Tigers’ winning streak at 15 games.
The Midshipmen (7-1, 5-0 The American) remained tied with Houston atop the West Division. Memphis (8-1, 4-1 The American) was ranked No. 13 this week in the first College Football Playoff standings.
DeBrandon Sanders ran for 82 yards and Navy’s triple-option rushing attack had 374 yards against a Memphis defense that had only allowed 118.8 yards a game.
A 75-yard scoring pass from Keenan Reynolds to DeBrandon Sanders with 6:43 left in the third quarter gave the Midshipmen the lead for good at 24-17. The pass came on the first play from scrimmage after Memphis tied it at 17-17.
The Midshipmen beat a top-15 team for the first time since Nov. 17, 1984, against then-No. 2 South Carolina, and accomplished the feat on the road for the first time since Sept. 21, 1974, against then-No. 8 Penn State.
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