In a commanding display of defense and a strong ground game, the Navy Midshipmen overpowered the South Florida Bulls 28-7 on Saturday in Tampa. The Midshipmen limited USF to just 60 rushing yards on 25 carries, while Navy’s offense scored four touchdowns—three on the ground and one through the air. The dominant win in front of 34,091 fans at Raymond James Stadium keeps Navy in the thick of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title race, setting up a pivotal matchup next weekend against Tulane.
From the opening kickoff, Navy (6-3, 4-1 AAC) established its offensive and defensive dominance. On their first drive, the Midshipmen covered 70 yards in just four plays, capped off by a 60-yard touchdown run from Eli Heidenreich to put Navy up 7-0. Navy’s defense quickly made an impact as well, with Kyle Jacob’s second interception of the season halting USF’s initial response. Navy capitalized on the turnover, marching 79 yards in 13 plays and finishing with a 20-yard touchdown run by Brandon Chatman to extend the lead to 14-0.
Navy’s defense held firm throughout the first half, limiting USF to only 120 yards of total offense. The Bulls struggled to move the ball, managing just 64 yards over their final five first-half possessions. The most critical defensive play came late in the second quarter when junior Kenneth McShan blitzed and pressured USF quarterback Bryce Archie into a poor throw. Navy’s Ira Oniha picked off the pass, setting up the offense with excellent field position.
With just 14 seconds left in the half, Navy wasted no time capitalizing. Junior fullback Alex Tecza advanced the ball with a 15-yard run, and quarterback Blake Horvath connected with Tecza for a 38-yard touchdown pass, sending the Midshipmen into the locker room with a commanding 21-0 lead.
The second half continued in the same vein, with Navy’s defense stifling USF’s offense and allowing the Midshipmen to extend their lead. A 10-yard touchdown run by Horvath in the fourth quarter, set up by a creative 34-yard run on a fake punt by nose guard Landon Robinson, stretched Navy’s lead to 28-0. USF managed a late touchdown with just over a minute remaining, but the game had long been decided.
Heidenreich led the ground attack with 84 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while senior fullback Daba Fofana contributed 75 yards on 15 carries. Navy finished with an impressive 321 rushing yards, while Horvath added 56 rushing yards, completing 6 of 11 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Luke Pirris led with nine tackles and half a sack, while McShan added eight tackles. Robinson was a disruptive force, logging 1.5 sacks in addition to his key fake punt run.
Navy’s win puts them in a prime position to challenge for a spot in the AAC title game. Currently in third place in the conference, the Midshipmen trail Tulane (7-2, 5-0) by just one game in the loss column. Next Saturday, Navy will host Tulane at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in a crucial matchup that could shape the AAC title race. A win would bring Navy even with Tulane in the conference standings and bolster their chances for a title-game appearance.
Kickoff is set for 12 noon, and with the stakes high, the Midshipmen will look to carry the momentum of their dominant win over USF into what promises to be an intense showdown. Navy’s ability to control the clock with its rushing attack and its defense’s knack for forcing timely turnovers will be key as they seek to secure their spot in the AAC championship race.
