Army-Navy game decided by late touchdown by Midshipmen
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BALTIMORE, MD — Down 16-7 in the third quarter, No. 25 Navy scored the game’s final 10 points, including the go-ahead touchdown 6:37 to play, and beat Army 17-16 in the 126th meeting in the series.
With the win, Navy retains the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy given to the winner of the round-robin series between the Bowl Subdivision service academics for the second year in a row.
After scoring on the game’s opening drive, costly mistakes by the Navy offense helped the Black Knights stake a 13-7 lead after making a 45-yard field with three seconds left in the second quarter. That scoring drive was set up an Army fumble recovery.
The Blake Knights added another field goal to take a 16-7 lead after defensive back Justin Weaver intercepted Navy quarterback Blake Horvath early in the third quarter. Weaver originally made a 32-yard touchdown return before an official review showed his knee was on the ground when he made the interception.
But the Midshipmen responding, adding a field goal of their own later in the third quarter, capping a 13-play, 72-yard drive that saw Horvath run or pass on all but two snaps.
The game shifted on a costly Army mistake. After forcing a Navy punt and taking over at their own 24-yard line with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter, the Black Knights gave the ball back to the Midshipmen on an interception by quarterback Cale Hellums, who missed an open receiver streaking downfield and then underthrew his intended target along the right sideline.
The Midshipmen went on a 50-yard drive capped by a Horvath fourth-down touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich to go ahead 17-16. The touchdown was Horvath’s 10th through the air, giving him at least 10 touchdowns as a passer and a runner in each of his two seasons as the starter.
Navy’s defense then delivered a key stop on Army’s ensuing possession, drawing a holding penalty that pushed the Black Knights back near their own goal line and then nearly intercepting Hellums’ desperation third-down heave down the middle of the field.
Taking over with 4:50 play at their 38-yard line, the Midshipmen gained one first down but then nearly handed the ball back to Army after Horvath fumbled when fighting to convert a third-down run.
On further review, though, officials ruled Horvath was down by contact, leaving Navy facing fourth-and-short from the Army 40-yard line. Instead of punting, the Midshipmen went for the conversion: Horvath handed the ball to running back Alex Tecza, who bulled forward for the first down.
With the Blake Knight out of timeouts, Navy was able to go into victory formation to seal the victory.
The Midshipmen have won 10 games in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. After nearly playing for the American championship and a potential College Football Playoff berth, Navy will face Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl. Army’s season will continue against Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Navy defeats Army with fourth-quarter pass by Blake Horvath
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