Navy Beats Air Force in a Thriller
Mark H Stone | Published on 10/6/2025
ByAP
Updated: Oct 4, 2025, 06:03 pm
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- — Blake Horvath threw three touchdown passes to Eli Heidenreich, who set a pair of Navy records, and the Midshipmen outlasted Air Force 34-31 on Saturday.
The victory gives Navy (5-0) a leg up on holding on to the Commander-in-Chief's trophy, awarded to the winner of the round-robin between the Navy, Air Force and Army service academies.
Horvath was 20-of-26 passing for a career-high 339 yards and added another 130 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Heidenreich, who came in with five catches this season, set a Navy record with 243 receiving yards on eight receptions including 19-, 80- and 60-yard touchdowns, giving him a program record 14 in his career.
On a day filled with big-play offense, it was Nathan Kirkwood's field goal with 6:47 remaining that gave Navy the lead. That was followed by a deflected pitch recovered by the Midshipmen at midfield, allowing them to run out the clock.
Liam Szarka was 11-of-19 passing for 2