Midshipmen Edge Black Knights to Keep Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in Annapolis

Navy edged Army 17–16 on Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, claiming the 126th meeting between the two service academies in front of a crowd of 70,936. The win secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the Midshipmen for a second straight year, something the program had not accomplished since the 2012–13 seasons.

Navy struck first with a methodical opening drive that set the tone for a fast-moving first quarter, which lasted just 25 minutes. Quarterback Blake Horvath capped a 13-play, 75-yard march with a 5-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter to give Navy a 7–0 lead.

Army responded early in the second quarter behind quarterback Cale Hellums, who finished the day with 100 rushing yards on 25 carries. Hellums capped Army’s own 13-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7–7. Army added two Dawson Jones field goals before halftime, including a 45-yard kick as time expired, to take a 13–7 lead into the break.

Brian Newberry

“Wasn't the prettiest today, a lot of mistakes, a couple of turnovers, some missed opportunities,” Navy head coach Brian Newberry said. “But really, really proud of our guys for finding a way, being down at halftime. They kept battling and found a way to get it done in the end.”

Army continued to control field position coming out of halftime, extending its lead to 16–7 with a 48-yard Jones field goal early in the third quarter. Navy answered late in the period with a 21-yard field goal by Nathan Kirkwood after a 13-play drive that trimmed the deficit to six.

Despite a pair of early turnovers, Horvath settled in and kept Navy within reach. “Blake didn’t play his best game,” Newberry said. “Had a couple misreads early on, a couple turnovers and some missed throws, but the kid is special. Just doesn’t faze him one bit.”

Blake Horvath

That composure showed in the fourth quarter. Horvath led a nine-play, 50-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining. The catch gave Heidenreich 72 receiving yards on the day and pushed his season total to 837, breaking a Navy receiving record that had stood since 1967.

Navy’s defense sealed the win from there, holding Army scoreless in the fourth quarter and forcing a late punt before running out the clock. The Midshipmen finished with 190 rushing yards, led by Horvath’s 107 on the ground, while Army totaled 120 rushing yards and controlled possession for long stretches.

“You need your seniors to have big moments in games like this,” Newberry said. “It’s a special senior class. They’ve worked their tails off, and this group is going to leave a legacy behind.”

The victory gave Navy its first back-to-back 10-win seasons in school history and kept the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in Annapolis for another year. “The only bad thing about this game is that somebody has to sing first,” Newberry said afterward. “I think anybody watching that game, if you're American, you're super proud of what you saw on the football field.”

Navy (10-2) will now turn its attention to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Cincinnati on January 2, while Army (6-6) faces Connecticut in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on December 27.

Army and Navy Battle in Baltimore on December 13

Navy and Army will take center stage Saturday when they face each other in the 126th meeting of college football’s most famous rivalry. The game is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and will be shown nationwide on CBS. Beyond pride and tradition, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is on the line.

The Midshipmen come in at 9–2 and ranked in the national polls, continuing one of the most successful regular seasons in school history. Navy has ridden a powerful offense that can hurt teams on the ground and through the air, led by senior quarterback and team captain Blake Horvath. Horvath has been a standout dual-threat this year, leading Navy in both passing and rushing, and has steadily piled up yardage to help keep the Midshipmen near the top of the American Athletic Conference.

Horvath’s leadership has been key, and his ability to make plays whether he’s throwing the ball or scrambling has made Navy difficult to defend. He’s joined by playmakers like Eli Heidenreich, who has been a big target in the passing game and a threat with the ball in space. Running back Alex Tecza also contributes regularly in the rushing attack, keeping opposing defenses off balance. 

Defensively, Navy has been solid and opportunistic throughout the season. MarcAnthony Parker has been one of the unit’s leaders, leading the team in tackles and adding an interception. Luke Pirris has been active around the line of scrimmage with 72 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Landon Robinson has also made an impact up front, recording 8.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, giving Navy consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Army arrives at 6–5 after securing bowl eligibility in its final regular-season game and will look to slow the Midshipmen with its trademark rushing attack and disciplined defense. The Black Knights run a tough ground game and try to control the clock, setting up a contrast of styles that always makes this rivalry special.

The matchup is expected to be competitive and physical, as it often is in this long-standing rivalry. With pride and tradition on the line, the Army-Navy game remains one of college football’s most meaningful and popular games each season.

Navy Stuns No. 24 South Florida on Senior Day, 41–38

Navy earned its biggest win of the season on Senior Day in Annapolis, upsetting No. 24 South Florida 41–38 with strong runs, big plays through the air, and a final defensive stand that kept the Bulls from completing a late comeback. For head coach Brian Newberry, the effort was exactly what he had been waiting to see.

“I'm so proud of this football team. I told them after the game this is the team I've been waiting to see all year long and that's not to say that it was perfect, it certainly wasn't. What they did today is they came out and they competed, and that was the message this week. Just let it loose, compete your tails off, play for each other, play for the seniors.”

Navy has been at its best when starting fast, entering the game 6–0 this season when scoring first. They made it 7–0 by striking early. After forcing a South Florida punt, the Midshipmen moved the ball quickly, and fullback Alex Tecza broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run giving Navy a quick 7–0 lead. South Florida answered with a field goal, but Navy found another big play on its next long drive.

With the ball at the Navy 14, quarterback Blake Horvath threw the longest pass of his career—an 82-yard deep ball to Eli Heidenreich. The catch was also the longest of Heidenreich’s career and moved him into first place all-time in career receiving yards at Navy. An ensuing short run by Brandon Chatman on the next play made it 14–3 going into the second quarter.

South Florida cut the lead to 14–9 with a touchdown pass from Byrum Brown, but Navy answered again. Horvath completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tecza to push the lead back to 21–9. Moments later, defensive back Phillip Hamilton grabbed his second interception of the year to stop a Bulls drive near midfield. Navy used the next possession to set up a 44-yard field goal from Nathan Kirkwood, stretching the lead to 24–9.

South Florida tried to rally late in the half, driving inside the Navy 35, but the Mids stopped a fourth-and-one run to keep the lead at 15 points going into halftime.

The Bulls opened the second half with a touchdown run to make it 24–16. Navy answered with a defensive stop and eventually added a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to go up 27–16. Only one play later, South Florida tightened the game again when Brown ran 60 yards for a touchdown and added a two-point conversion to cut Navy’s lead to 27–24.

Horvath then had to leave the game briefly with leg cramps, bringing in Braxton Woodson. Woodson took over and immediately helped settle the offense. He led an eight-play drive that ended with his first touchdown—a 20-yard run that made it 34–24. South Florida came back with another touchdown to get within 34–30 after a missed extra point.

On the next possession, Woodson came through again. He kept the ball on a zone read and broke into the open field for a 64-yard touchdown run, giving Navy a 41–30 lead and finishing the day with 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

South Florida refused to go away. Brown led a quick drive ending with a 41-yard touchdown pass and another two-point conversion to make it 41–38 with under two minutes left. The Bulls attempted an onside kick, but Navy recovered it. The Midshipmen ran the ball on the final plays to close out the win and send their seniors off with a strong finish in their last home game.

Horvath ended the day with 207 total yards, including the 82-yard pass to Heidenreich. Heidenreich recorded 146 receiving yards and reached another career milestone. Tecza added 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Coleman Cauley and MarcAnthony Parker combined for 21 tackles, and Hamilton’s interception helped stall South Florida’s momentum in the first half.

Navy improves to 8–2 and now prepares for a road trip to Memphis on Thanksgiving night. South Florida, now 7–3, travels to face UAB next week. 

Navy and South Florida Battle at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

South Florida heads to Navy on Saturday for a key conference matchup that could shape the American Athletic Conference standings. Both teams are 7-2 and part of a tight race at the top, with only one league loss each. Kickoff is at noon in Annapolis.

USF comes in with one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 42 points per game. Quarterback Byrum Brown has been the Bulls’ star all season. He has thrown for more than 2,200 yards and run for over 700, making him one of the most dangerous dual-threat players in college football. Last week against UTSA, Brown led USF to a 55–23 win by piling up 348 total yards in just over one half of action. The Bulls have also been very strong on the ground, rushing for more than 235 yards in six straight games.

Navy will counter with its own strong running attack. The Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing, gaining over 300 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Blake Horvath has rushed for more than 100 yards in six straight games and directs an offense built on long drives and ball control. Navy is 5-0 at home this season and has been tough to beat in Annapolis.

The teams have split their last two meetings. Navy beat USF 28–7 last year in Tampa, while the Bulls won in Annapolis in 2023. USF has usually played well when it can score early and speed up the game, while Navy prefers to slow things down and limit possessions. That contrast in styles will be a big factor on Saturday.

With both teams fighting for a spot in the conference championship game, this matchup carries extra weight. USF is trying to stay on track for its first league title, while Navy hopes to finish the regular season unbeaten at home. It should be one of the most important games of the weekend in the American.

 

Navy Looks to Remain Undefeated Against Florida Atlantic

Navy will try to stay unbeaten and extend one of the longest winning streaks in the country when it hosts Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Midshipmen, 6–0 overall and 4–0 in the American Conference, face the Owls, who are 3–4 and 2–2 in league play. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Navy has won nine straight games dating back to last season, tied for the second-longest active streak in the nation. A win would give the Mids their first 7–0 start since 1978.

Saturday’s matchup features a clash of styles. Navy leads the nation in rushing with an average of 305 yards per game. Senior quarterback Blake Horvath has been the driving force, rushing for more than 100 yards in four straight games while ranking among the most efficient passers in the country. Horvath has eight rushing touchdowns and has given the Mids a consistent spark in close wins over Air Force and Temple.

Senior receiver Eli Heidenreich has been one of the team’s biggest playmakers. He holds the school record for career receiving touchdowns with 14 and averages more than 21 yards per catch. His 243-yard, three-touchdown performance against Air Force earlier this month was the best receiving day in Navy history.

Florida Atlantic relies on the pass. Under first-year head coach Zach Kittley, the youngest head coach in the FBS at 34, the Owls run an Air Raid offense led by quarterback Caden Veltkamp, who leads the nation in completions per game. His favorite target, Easton Messer, tops the NCAA in receptions per game, while receiver Jayshon Platt ranks among the national leaders in all-purpose yards.

The Owls are celebrating their 25th season of football and are looking for their first win over Navy in three tries. A victory would give Kittley his fourth career win and the program its second-ever victory over a service academy. Linebacker Tyler Stolsky leads the FAU defense with back-to-back double-digit tackle games.

Navy has won its last three Homecoming games and hasn’t lost one since 2021. The Mids have also won 76 straight home games when leading after three quarters, the longest streak in the country. With bowl eligibility already secured and momentum building in conference play, Navy will try to keep its perfect record intact and continue one of the most impressive runs in program history.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday on CBS Sports Network.