This was a different Army and Navy game than before. This season, both teams had a combined 19 wins before their annual meeting, a record for the rivalry.
Of course, only one of them will be responsible for the biggest win, 20th place.
“I think they’re just like us, we want to be important,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said. “I think both of us were like that this year, so maybe that gave the game a little more meaning and a little more interest.”
On Saturday, Blake Horvath outplayed Bryson Daley at quarterback, rushing for 311 yards and four touchdowns as Navy defeated No. 22 Army 31-13. Horvath threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 204 yards and two TDs.
Navy (9-3) ended its series losing streak at two.
Daley, who finished sixth in this year’s Heisman Trophy voting, threw his own touchdown passes but was intercepted three times. Army (11-2) fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter and never fully recovered. The Black Knights defeated Tulane in the American Athletic Conference title game, winning the league for the first time in program history.
Navy, which won its first six games of the season and spent time in the AP Top 25, defeated Air Force and Army to win the Commander-in-Chief Trophy for the first time since 2019.
“Eight days ago I was excited and proud, but I’ve never been more disappointed,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “It hurts to lose that game, especially when you have a trophy on the line and you have a chance to defend that trophy at West Point. We didn’t do it.”
In front of a crowd that included President-elect Donald Trump at the Washington Commanders’ home stadium in Landover, Navy drove 65 yards on the opening kickoff and reached the end zone on Horvath’s 1-yard run.
Daley, who had only one interception all season, was intercepted by Dashaun Peel in the second quarter. The Midshipmen took advantage of a short field and took a 14-0 lead on an 18-yard pass from Horvath to Brandon Chatman. Daley responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Reed.
As expected, both teams ran a lot, but combined for 25 pass attempts, including perhaps the biggest play of the game in the third quarter. After Army’s field goal made the score 14-10, Horvath connected with Eli Heidenreich and raced down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.
It was Horvath’s 13th touchdown pass of the season and Heidenreich’s sixth touchdown reception, both tied for school records.
Dailey missed an open shot from Casey Reynolds in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, giving Army a field goal.
Navy then had a fourth down near midfield, but Landon Robinson, who normally plays nose guard, ran 29 yards on a fake punt. Robinson fumbled at the end of the play, but the Midshipmen were able to recover.
Horvath’s 1-yard scoring run made it 28-13, and Daley had two more interceptions before the end of the game.
This was the first of two consecutive Army-Navy games held in Navy’s home state of Maryland. Next year it will be held in Baltimore.
It’s been a historic season for the Black Knights, but anyone watching this rivalry knows how empty a losing team feels. He threw for 65 yards and ran for only 52 yards each day.
“It’s been a good season,” Monken said. “If we lose this game, there’s nothing great, nothing extraordinary, nothing outstanding, nothing amazing.” “Frankly, the season has been a little disappointing. That’s the truth of this game.”
Cadets earn the ultimate bragging rights. This is a defining moment for Newberry, who is in his second season as Navy’s coach.
“With the changes in college football today, it’s hard to really build a culture based on love and trust. It takes time,” Newberry said. “We still have people like that here at the academy. That’s why I think I’ve landed one of the best jobs in the country.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
