Horvath to Heidenreich Lifts No. 22 Navy Past Army in Thrilling 17–16 Rivalry Win

Baltimore — Blake Horvath and Eli Heidenreich delivered once again on college football’s biggest rivalry stage, connecting on a decisive fourth-and-goal touchdown to propel No. 22 Navy to a dramatic 17–16 victory over Army on Saturday. With 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, Horvath fired an 8-yard touchdown pass to Heidenreich, converting a risky fourth-down attempt and capping Navy’s late comeback. The score proved to be the difference as the Midshipmen secured their second straight win over Army and claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the second consecutive season. Heidenreich, already Navy’s career and single-season leader in receiving yards, caught six of Horvath’s seven completions on the day. Despite Army focusing much of its defensive attention on him, Heidenreich was left single-covered on the decisive play. “Who wouldn’t go to him?” Horvath said after the game. “Talk about an all-time Navy legend.” The touchdown followed a chaotic goal-line sequence. On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Horvath lost the ball on a quarterback sneak attempt. Army linebacker Eric Ford nearly recovered the fumble, but Navy running back Alex Tecza disrupted the play, allowing Heidenreich to fall on the loose ball at the 8-yard line. One play later, Horvath narrowly avoided a sack and threw an incomplete pass, setting up the pivotal fourth down.

Navy head coach Brian Newberry said the decision to go for it was necessary. “The nature of what they do offensively, you may not get the ball back,” he explained. Even after taking the lead, Navy survived another tense moment late in the game. Horvath briefly lost control of the ball on a third-and-3 run, but officials ruled him down before a second fumble that Army recovered. Tecza then ran for a crucial first down, allowing Navy to kneel out the clock and seal the win. The teams traded long touchdown drives to open the game, with Horvath scoring on a 5-yard run and Army quarterback Cale Hellums answering with a 2-yard touchdown. Army took a 10–7 halftime lead after recovering a late Horvath fumble and converting it into a 45-yard field goal by Dawson Jones. Army extended its lead to 16–7 in the third quarter with a career-long 48-yard field goal, but Navy responded with a field goal of its own after Horvath broke free for a 37-yard run. A late interception by Navy’s Phillip Hamilton gave the Midshipmen another opportunity, setting up the game-winning drive.

Army defensive lineman Jack Bousum stood out despite the loss, recording one and a half sacks and a fumble recovery against his hometown team. Still, Army’s offense struggled in the second half, managing only six points after halftime.

With President Donald Trump in attendance, the victory carried added significance. Navy improved to 10–2 on the season, while Army finished the regular season 6–6. Army will face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27, while Navy will play Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2. For Navy, the dramatic win mattered more than any conference standing. In a rivalry defined by moments, Horvath’s throw to Heidenreich will be remembered as one of the most important connections in the history of “America’s Game.”