BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Blake Horvath and Eli Heidenreich once again delivered when Navy needed them most, combining on the defining play of a rivalry showdown that capped a memorable season for the Midshipmen. Facing fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter, Horvath fired an 8-yard touchdown pass to Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining, lifting No. 22 Navy to a 17-16 comeback win over Army. The connection symbolized the Navy’s offensive identity all season, as Heidenreich — the program’s career and single-season receiving yards leader — caught six of Horvath’s seven completions in the game. Despite the obvious passing situation and single coverage over the middle, the Army’s defense could not stop the decisive play. Navy finished 10-2, secured its second straight win over Army, and claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the second consecutive year, all with President Donald Trump in attendance. Army, which fell to 6-6, has still not beaten a ranked Navy team since 1955.
The winning drive nearly unraveled moments earlier. On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Horvath lost the ball while attempting a short-yardage push, but running back Alex Tecza prevented an Army scoop-and-score, and Heidenreich recovered the loose ball back at the 8. Horvath then narrowly avoided a sack on third down, throwing incomplete as he went down, setting up the crucial fourth-down decision. After the touchdown and a subsequent Army punt, Navy survived another scare when Horvath briefly lost control of the ball on a third-and-3 run near midfield. After a review ruled him down before the second fumble, Tecza converted the ensuing play, allowing Navy to kneel out the clock. Tensions briefly flared near midfield before the traditional postgame alma maters brought the rivalry to a close.
The game opened with mirror-image touchdown drives, as both teams marched 75 yards on 13-play possessions lasting more than seven minutes. Horvath scored first on a 5-yard run, while Army quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a 2-yard plunge that extended into the second quarter. Army seized momentum late in the first half when Horvath fumbled while preparing to pass, setting up a 45-yard field goal that gave the Black Knights a 10-7 lead at the break. Army extended that advantage to 13-7 in the third quarter after intercepting Horvath, though a replay ruled the returner down before the goal line, forcing a field goal instead of a touchdown. Navy responded with a field goal of its own after Horvath broke free for a 37-yard run, cutting the deficit to 16-10.
Navy’s defense tightened in the second half, holding Army to just six points after halftime and creating the opening for the late rally. An interception by Phillip Hamilton at midfield with just over 11 minutes remaining set up the final scoring drive, highlighted by Tecza’s 24-yard run to the 5-yard line. Army defensive lineman Jack Bousum, a native of Annapolis, stood out with a sack, a half-sack, and a fumble recovery, but the Black Knights struggled to sustain their blocking and offensive rhythm after intermission. For the Navy, the win carried added significance after finishing tied atop the American Athletic Conference standings but missing the championship game due to tiebreakers. The Midshipmen will carry the momentum into a Liberty Bowl matchup against Cincinnati on Jan. 2, while Army heads to the Fenway Bowl to face UConn on Dec. 27.
