Utah held off a wild Navy comeback — a 58-yard touchdown pass and a successful onside kick cut a 10-point lead to 3 in the final minute — before Joe Dale’s interception sealed it. Dale also had 12 tackles and took Defensive MVP.

QB Brian Johnson (226 yards passing, 2 total TDs) earned Offensive MVP as Utah won its seventh straight bowl game, part of the same streak that would reach nine by 2009. Navy ran for over 300 yards but couldn’t overcome early turnovers, and first-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo — taking over for Paul Johnson, who’d just left for Georgia Tech — suffered his first loss.