TJ Chapman
Editor
The Navy Midshipmen (10-2) used a 4th quarter comeback to down the rival Army Black Knights (6-6) 17-16 at M&T Bank Stadium Saturday afternoon in the 126th edition of the Army-Navy Game. That comeback was finished by an 8-yard touchdown from QB Blake Horvath to SB Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining.
The drive was set up by Navy DB Phillip Hamilton’s interception of Army QB Cale Hellums at midfield with 11:17 to go. Hellums scrambled out of the pocket while under pressure from Navy All-American NG Landon Robinson. Because of Hellums’ delay, his throw was late and short, allowing Hamilton to undercut the route and make the interception.
On the opening drive of the game, Navy marched 75 yards on 13 plays, chewing up 7:44 of game time enroute to a 7-0 lead. Army responded with their own 13 play drive of 75 yards, taking 7:21 off the clock. (Each team had 1 possession in the 1st quarter, which lasted only 25 minutes of real time)
Navy drove 63 yards in an incredible 8:52, but Horvath fumbled on the Army 27-yard line, ending the drive. Army reached the Navy 28-yard line before settling for a 45-yard Dawson Jones field goal to end the half, 13-7 Black Knights.
Navy head coach Brian Newberry and his staff made adjustments on the defensive side of the ball at halftime. The Midshipmen only allowed 27 total yards to the Black Knights the entire half.
Army’s opening drive ended in a punt. Then, a Horvath pass intended for Heidenreich was intercepted by Army DB Justin Weaver at the Navy 32-yard line. Army was only able to muster 2 yards on that drive and settled for a 48-yard Jones field goal to go up 16-7.
Navy responded with a field goal drive of its own to pull within 6 points. Army’s next, and last, three drives were 2 three-and-outs and Hamilton’s interception.
After Hamilton’s interception, Horvath went to work at the 50-yard line. The Midshipmen drove to the one-inch line, setting up what would have been the go-ahead touchdown. However, Army star LB Andon Thomas leaped over the line during the tush push and punched out the ball from Horvath’s hands.
RB Alex Tecza was able to get the ball away from an Army defender so Heidenreich could fall on the fumble at the Army 8-yard line. On 4th and 8, Newberry decided to go for it and Horvath hit Heidenreich for the game-winning TD, 17-16.
The MVP of the game was Heidenreich, who finished with 6 catches for 72 receiving yards and 1 TD. The Pittsburgh, PA, native also added 28 rushing yards.
With the Midshipmen getting the victory over Army Saturday, it marks the first time in history that Navy has won back-to-back Commander-in-Chief Trophies.
The three-headed monster for Navy of Horvath, Heidenreich and Tecza end their last Army-Navy Game doing what all of the Midshipmen, as well as all Navy fans covet the most: sing second.
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