ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Owen Daffer drilled a 54-yard field goal as time expired to give East Carolina a 38-35 win at Navy Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Holton Ahlers threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns for the Pirates, including a 28-yard strike to Tyler Snead with 5:01 left in regulation to spark ECU's comeback from a late 35-27 deficit.

Daffer made three field goals for the Pirates, who picked up their seventh win of the season and improved to 5-2 in American Athletic Conference play, matching their most conference wins since joining The American in 2014.

East Carolina had taken a 24-21 lead into the fourth quarter, but Navy claimed the lead on Carlinos Acie's 90-yard touchdown run through the left side to give the Midshipmen a 28-24 advantage.

The Pirates got back within one on Daffer's short field goal with 8:47 left, but Navy scored another long touchdown run when Maquel Haywood returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, giving the Midshipmen a 35-27 lead.

Snead finished with five receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns for East Carolina, while Keaton Mitchell rushed for 94 yards and a TD on 18 carries. Ahlers went 27-for-32 and was not intercepted in his American Athletic Conference-leading 13th career 300-yard game.

Navy (2-8, 2-5 American) was led by Acie, who rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Tai Lavatai threw two touchdown passes.