Navy Edges Army 17‑16, Heidenreich’s Touchdown Secures Second Straight Commander‑In‑Chief’s Trophy

In a game that lived up to its name, Navy edged Army 17-16 on Saturday, thanks to a clutch 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Horvath to receiver Eli Heidenreich. The play, completed on fourth-and-goal with 6:32 remaining, proved to be the decisive moment in a contest that saw both teams trade drives and close calls. Navy’s win secured the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season, a feat the Midshipmen have not repeated since 1955.

The Final Drive

Horvath’s 8-yard strike came after a series of tense moments. On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, a mishandled push left the ball loose. Army linebacker Eric Ford nearly recovered it, but Navy running back Alex Tecza lunged to stop the play, allowing Heidenreich to fall on the ball back at the 8. \”That’s probably the last thing you want to see on the 1-yard line is you turn around and the ball is just bouncing behind you,\” Heidenreich said. \”I was blocking down. I thought he had pushed in, and kind of out of my peripheral I saw it going behind me.\”

The next play saw Horvath almost sacked, but he launched a pass toward Tecza as he went down. The ball fell incomplete near the 15, a result that made a fourth‑down attempt more attractive. \”I kind of felt like we had to,\” Navy coach Brian Newberry said. \”The nature of what they do offensively, despite how well we played in the second half, you may not get the ball back.\”

A Game of Near-Misses

Even after the touchdown, Navy faced one more potential turnover. On third-and-3 from the Army 43, a fumble on a run by Horvath was recovered by the defense, but after a review, Horvath was ruled down before the ball hit the ground, a yard short of the line to gain. Tecza then ran for the first down that allowed Navy to kneel out the clock.

The final moments were punctuated by a brief ruckus near midfield, but the crowd soon settled for the traditional singing of the alma maters.

Army’s Efforts

Army coach Jeff Monken praised the defense’s effort, saying, \”Tried to bring some pressure on them. Good throw and good catch.\” He added, \”They beat blocks, we didn’t sustain the blocks we needed to.\”

Army’s offensive line struggled to keep Navy’s offense contained, and the Black Knights were better in the first half but did little offensively afterward.

Navy’s Season Context

Navy entered the game with a 10-2 record and finished tied for first in the American Athletic Conference. The Midshipmen missed the league title game because of tiebreakers, but the victory over Army was more meaningful, preserving their streak of Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy wins.

The game also featured President Donald Trump, who tossed the coin before kickoff at midfield and returned at halftime to walk from the Navy sideline to the Army one.

Notable Performances

• Eli Heidenreich, Navy’s career and single-season receiving yardage leader, caught six of Horvath’s seven completions.
• Army defensive lineman Jack Bousum, a native of Annapolis, recorded 1 ½ sacks and a fumble recovery.
• Horvath’s play‑calling included a 5‑yard scoring run early in the game, while Army’s quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a 2‑yard touchdown.

Looking Ahead

Army will face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27, while Navy will travel to Cincinnati for the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2.

Key Takeaways

• Navy’s 17-16 win secured a second straight Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy.
• Eli Heidenreich’s 8‑yard touchdown on fourth‑and‑goal was the game‑deciding play.
• Both teams experienced tense moments, but Navy’s defense and special teams held the edge.

The game’s final score, 17-16, reflected a hard‑fought battle between two storied rivals, with Navy emerging victorious thanks to clutch playmaking and disciplined defense.