Navy Dominates Army in 125th Rivalry Game, 31-13

Landover, MD — In a historic 125th meeting between the Navy Midshipmen and Army Black Knights, Navy claimed a decisive 31-13 victory at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Behind a record-tying performance from quarterback Blake Horvath and a stout defensive effort anchored by nose guard Landon Robinson, the Midshipmen controlled the game from start to finish, sending their seniors out with a win and claiming bragging rights for the next year.

Brian Newberry

“Just couldn’t be more proud and happy for our players and our seniors,” said Navy head coach Brian Newberry. “They talked about leaving a legacy this year, and they’ve certainly done that. We talked about playing fast and free and without fear of failure, and I thought we did that in a convincing way over a really good football team.”

Navy opened the game with an early statement, driving 65 yards over 12 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Blake Horvath capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on a QB sneak. Horvath accounted for 22 rushing yards on the drive, while Alex Tecza added key gains to keep the chains moving.

After forcing Army into a quick three-and-out, Navy’s defense continued to take control, with dominating performances from Colin Ramos and Landon Robinson limiting Army’s run game to just 17 yards in the first quarter. Navy’s defense swarmed Army quarterback Bryson Daly, who struggled to find openings against Navy’s front seven.

The second quarter saw Navy capitalize on a crucial turnover. With Army driving near midfield, defensive back Dashaun Peele intercepted Daly’s pass, setting the Midshipmen up at the Army 44-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Horvath wasted no time, connecting with Brandon Chatman on an 18-yard touchdown pass that extended Navy’s lead to 14-0.

Army responded with its best drive of the first half, marching 65 yards on eight plays. Daly connected with Hayden Reed on a 23-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-7. Navy’s defense held firm for the remainder of the quarter, highlighted by a critical stop from Robinson and Justin Reed on a third-and-short run to force a punt late in the half.

Army opened the second half with momentum, driving deep into Navy territory before settling for a 39-yard field goal by Trey Gronotte to make the score 14-10. The Black Knights seemed poised to challenge Navy’s lead, but the Midshipmen had other plans.

Eli Heidenreich

On just the third play of Navy’s next drive, Horvath delivered a perfectly thrown 52-yard bomb to Eli Heidenreich, who outran the defense for a touchdown. The score not only put Navy up 21-10 but also tied Heidenreich for Navy’s single-season record for touchdown receptions (6). 

Navy’s defense continued to impose its will, forcing a turnover on downs on Army’s next possession. Ramos and Kyle Jacob delivered crucial tackles to stop Army’s runners short of the sticks.

The fourth quarter began with another Gronotte field goal for Army, narrowing the score to 21-13. But Navy responded with a clock-chewing 75-yard drive, highlighted by a pivotal fake punt called by Landon Robinson. Facing fourth-and-five from their own 47-yard line, Robinson took the snap and rumbled 29 yards to the Army 24, energizing the Navy sideline.

“I just called it on the field, and here we are,” Robinson said. “It was something we worked on all season, and they gave us the right look.”

Landon Robinson

“Landon Robinson is one of the most trustworthy guys on the football team.  He called it (the fake punt) and we ran it. It's the second time he's done it this year," shared Newberry. "Man, it's good seeing that big boy, 280 pounds, run fast as he does, and getting it done. That probably sealed the game for us.”

Horvath capitalized on the momentum, breaking free on a 19-yard run and eventually plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out for his second rushing touchdown of the day. The score extended Navy’s lead to 28-13 with just under nine minutes remaining.

Navy added a 27-yard field goal by Nathan Kirkwood late in the game, following an interception by linebacker Luke Pirris, who read Daly’s pass perfectly to secure Navy’s third pick of the day.

Horvath was unstoppable throughout the game, rushing for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries

Blake Horvath

while completing 4 of 9 passes for 107 yards and two scores. His 13th passing touchdown of the season tied a Navy single-season record.

Navy’s defense held Army to just 178 total yards, including a mere 113 on the ground. The Black Knights averaged only 2.9 yards per carry against a swarming Navy front led by Robinson, Justin Reed, and Ramos. Navy forced three interceptions and held Army to 5 of 14 on third-down conversions.

Colin Ramous

“I know everybody’s talking about the offense, but I thought defensively we played lights out today,” Newberry said. “That’s a really good football team from one of the best O-lines in the country, and Bryson Daly is an outstanding football player. I thought we controlled the game on defense.”

For Navy’s seniors, this victory in one of college football’s greatest rivalries. As Horvath said after the game, “I think it was February 27 when we walked into our winter workouts, and the CIC trophy is literally plastered on every locker, every wall, everywhere, around the room and it’s been since February that we’ve put this game in our head.”

With the victory, Navy improved to 9-3 and now turns its attention to the Armed Forces Bowl, where they’ll face Oklahoma on December 27. Army (11-2), will look to regroup for their Independence Bowl matchup against Louisiana Tech on December 28.