Annapolis, MD — The Navy Midshipmen set the tone early at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, jumping out to a commanding first-half lead and never looking back in their 21–13 victory over Rice.
Behind the steady leadership of senior quarterback Blake Horvath and standout running back Alex Tecza, Navy struck quickly with two touchdowns in the opening half. The Midshipmen’s offense rolled up 308 total yards before halftime, while the Owls were held to just 51 yards during the same span.
The Midshipmen have won seven-straight games and started 4-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1978-79.
Navy built a 14–0 advantage and controlled the tempo throughout, though heavy rain and a grind-it-out running game kept the final margin closer than expected.
With the win, the Midshipmen improve to 3–0 in American Athletic Conference play, maintaining their hold on first place in the league.
Rice (3–2, 1–1) capitalized on a late third-quarter interception of Horvath, converting it into a 35-yard field goal by Enoch Gota. In the fourth, Chase Jenkins connected with Drayden Dickmann for a 3-yard touchdown, and Gota added a 44-yarder to close out the scoring.
“As we get back to Houston, we’ve got to turn the page and get ready for FAU at home,” Jenkins told the media after the game. “One of the things I’m most proud about this team is our fight and our grit. You can see it out on the field. Regardless of the outcome, we fought. That’s something I’m proud of after leaving this game. We didn’t get the (desired) result, but going forward, you’re going to see a team full of heart.”
The victory also sets the stage for a much-anticipated clash next week, when Navy hosts rival Air Force Academy in the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series. That showdown will be the first of three critical matchups between Navy, Air Force, and Army to decide the prestigious service academy crown for the 2025 season.
