Baltimore, MD — In a rivalry defined by discipline, toughness, and moments that linger for generations, the deciding play once again came down to a familiar connection.
On fourth-and-goal with 6:32 remaining, Blake Horvath zipped an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich, lifting No. 22 Navy Midshipmen to a dramatic 17–16 victory over the Army Black Knights on Saturday.
Heidenreich, already the Midshipmen’s career and single-season receiving yards leader, was Horvath’s clear choice in the game’s biggest moment. He caught six of Horvath’s seven completions and once again proved why his name will live on in Navy football lore.
“Why wouldn’t you go to him?” Horvath said afterward. “He’s an all-time Navy legend. People are going to talk about Eli Heidenreich for a long, long time.”
A Risk Worth Taking
The decisive touchdown followed a tense sequence near the goal line. On second down, Horvath lost the ball attempting a sneak, but Navy avoided disaster when Alex Tecza prevented Army from recovering and Heidenreich fell on the loose ball. Facing fourth down moments later, Navy head coach Brian Newberry opted to trust his quarterback.
“We felt like we had to,” Newberry said. “With the way they play offense, you might not get the ball back.”
That faith was rewarded.
Late Drama, Familiar Edge
Even after the go-ahead score and an Army punt, Navy still needed one final escape. Horvath appeared to fumble on a third-down run near midfield, but replay ruled him down before the ball came loose. Tecza then powered ahead for the first down, allowing Navy to kneel out the clock as tensions briefly flared near midfield before the traditional alma mater songs restored order.
Horvath didn’t shy away from the rivalry’s edge afterward, delivering pointed remarks that underscored how much the win meant to the Midshipmen.
A Game of Long Drives and Short Margins
The contest opened with methodical, mirror-image drives. Each team marched 75 yards on 13 plays, consuming more than seven minutes apiece. Horvath capped Navy’s opening possession with a 5-yard touchdown run, while Army quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a short scoring plunge that bled into the second quarter.
Army took a 10–7 lead late in the first half after Horvath fumbled in passing territory, setting up a 45-yard field goal by Dawson Jones.
Defense Carries the Second Half
Navy’s defense tightened after the break. Though Horvath threw an interception in the third quarter, replay ruled that Army’s Justin Weaver was down before returning it for a score, limiting the damage to a career-long 48-yard field goal by Jones.
Despite Army containing Navy’s usually explosive Wing-T attack, Horvath broke free for a 37-yard run that led to a field goal, trimming the deficit to 16–10. Moments later, an interception by Phillip Hamilton gave Navy a short field and set up the decisive drive.
History and Hardware
With Donald Trump in attendance, Navy improved to 10–2 and secured its second straight win over Army (6–6). The victory also clinched the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the Midshipmen for a second consecutive season. Army has not beaten an AP-ranked Navy team since 1955.
What’s Next:
Navy will close its season against Cincinnati Bearcats in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2. Army heads to the Fenway Bowl to face UConn Huskies on Dec. 27.
In a rivalry where legends are forged in inches, the final word belonged, once again, to Horvath and Heidenreich.
