In a rivalry defined by discipline, toughness and moments that linger for generations, No. 22 Navy found just enough late magic to rally past Army 17-16 on Saturday, capturing the 126th meeting between the service academies and securing the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season.
Blake Horvath delivered the decisive blow with 6:32 remaining, firing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich on fourth-and-goal. In a moment that will live in Navy lore, Heidenreich — the Midshipmen’s career and single-season leader in receiving yards — slipped uncovered over the middle and made the catch that turned the rivalry once again in Navy’s favor.
With President Donald Trump in attendance, Navy (10-2) extended a long-running trend, as Army (6-6) still has not beaten a ranked Navy team since 1955. The victory marked the Midshipmen’s second consecutive win over the Black Knights and reaffirmed their hold on the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
Navy’s game-winning drive nearly unraveled before it reached the end zone. On second-and-goal from the 1, Horvath lost the ball while attempting a tush push. Army linebacker Eric Ford had a chance to scoop it up, but Navy running back Alex Tecza lunged in time to prevent a clean recovery. The loose ball eventually found its way back to Heidenreich, who fell on it at the 8-yard line.
The drama wasn’t over. On the next play, Horvath was nearly sacked and flung the ball toward Tecza as he went down. The pass fell incomplete — a fortunate miss that made going for it on fourth down the obvious choice.
Despite it being a clear passing situation and Heidenreich being Navy’s top target, Army left him single-covered. Horvath didn’t hesitate, and Heidenreich made Army pay.
Heidenreich finished with six catches on the day — accounting for six of Horvath’s seven completions — further cementing his place in Navy history.
Even after taking the lead, Navy had to survive one more heart-stopping sequence. On third-and-3 from the Army 43, the ball popped loose on a Horvath run. Horvath managed to snag it out of the air, then appeared to lose it again as Army recovered. After review, however, Horvath was ruled down before the second fumble, though he was a yard short of the line to gain.
Tecza followed with a first-down run that allowed Navy to kneel out the clock. As the final seconds ticked away, Horvath appeared to wave goodbye toward the Army sideline, setting off a brief ruckus near midfield before tempers cooled for the traditional singing of the alma maters.
The afternoon began with a throwback feel. Both teams opened with identical touchdown drives — 13 plays, 75 yards, and more than seven minutes each. Horvath capped Navy’s opening march with a 5-yard scoring run, and Army quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a 2-yard plunge. Army’s opening drive didn’t conclude until five seconds into the second quarter.
Points were scarce after that. With Army leading 10-7 late in the second quarter, Horvath fumbled while looking to pass. The Black Knights recovered at their own 45 with 20 seconds left and quickly moved into field-goal range. Dawson Jones drilled a 45-yard kick to give Army a 13-7 halftime lead.
Army added to that margin in the third quarter after Horvath threw an interception that was initially returned for a touchdown. Replay showed Army’s Justin Weaver had a knee down when he picked off the pass at the Navy 32, forcing the Black Knights to settle for a career-long 48-yard field goal from Jones.
Trailing 16-7, Navy leaned on its defense and waited for an opening. The Midshipmen’s Wing-T offense — which entered the game with an FBS-high 10 plays of at least 60 yards — was mostly contained, but Horvath broke loose for a 37-yard run that set up a third-quarter field goal, cutting the deficit to 16-10.
The turning point came early in the fourth quarter. Hellums underthrew a pass that was intercepted by Phillip Hamilton, giving Navy the ball at midfield with 11:19 remaining. Tecza’s 24-yard run pushed the Midshipmen to first-and-goal at the 5, setting the stage for the dramatic fourth-down touchdown moments later.
Trump tossed the coin at midfield before kickoff and returned at halftime, walking from the Navy sideline to the Army side as part of the pageantry that defines the rivalry.
Army defensive lineman Jack Bousum, a native of Annapolis, stood out against his hometown team with 1½ sacks and a fumble recovery. Still, the Black Knights couldn’t sustain their early offensive success.
The takeaway for Army: The Black Knights were the better team in the first half but struggled to generate offense after halftime, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns.
What’s next: Army will face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27. Navy heads to the Liberty Bowl to take on Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
In a rivalry where every inch matters, Navy found just enough space — and one perfectly timed throw — to claim another unforgettable chapter.
