SAN DIEGO — Invite the Utah Utes to a bowl game and the odds are pretty good they're going to win.

Brian Johnson threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Utah opened the bowl season with a wild 35-32 victory over the Navy Midshipmen in the Poinsettia Bowl last night.

It was Utah's seventh straight bowl victory dating to 1999.

"Seven straight bowl wins, not a lot of people can say that," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "I tell you what, our seniors are 5-0. Fifth-year seniors, five bowl games, five rings. Unbelievable, the legacy they left behind."

Boston College has won seven straight bowls going into its game against Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl next Friday.

Running back Darrell Mack scored the first and last touchdowns for Utah (9-4), which won for the eighth time in nine games.

The loss spoiled the head coaching debut of Navy's Ken Niumatalolo, who was promoted from assistant head coach and offensive line coach after Paul Johnson left for Georgia Tech.

Navy (8-5) had its four-game winning streak snapped.

"More than anything, I feel for our seniors," said Niumatalolo, a University of Hawai'i alum. "I'll coach again."

Navy pulled to 35-32 on Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's 58-yard touchdown pass to Zerbin Singleton with 57 seconds left.

Singleton recovered the onside kick at the 42, but Kaheaku-Enhada, a Kapolei High alum, was intercepted by safety Joe Dale on the second play of the drive to seal the victory.

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