Midshipmen Rally Late to Win 126th Army-Navy Game
- garretdjohnson16
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
By Walker Johnson
Dec 13, 2025, 8:04PM
BALTIMORE — In a classic chapter of college football’s most enduring rivalry, the Navy Midshipmen rallied for a dramatic 17–16 victory over the Army Black Knights on Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. The win marked Navy’s second straight triumph in the series and secured back-to-back Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy titles in front of a sold-out crowd of passionate fans.
From the opening kickoff, it was clear this would be a defensive battle punctuated by grit, tradition, and timely execution. Both teams traded long, methodical drives in the first half, with Navy drawing first blood on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Blake Horvath. Army responded quickly, as quarterback Cale Hellums punched it in from two yards out, knotting the score and setting the tone for a tightly contested affair.
Mistakes and resilience defined much of the middle quarters. Horvath, who led Navy with 107 rushing yards, saw a promising drive nearly slip away after a fumble near the goal line — a turnover Army nearly converted into points but was ultimately thwarted by a heads-up play from the Midshipmen that resulted in Navy retaining possession. Army’s defense, stifling in the second half, held the Midshipmen to minimal yardage through much of the third quarter.
But the game’s defining moment came in the fourth quarter with the Midshipmen trailing 16–10 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line. With poise under pressure, Horvath found senior standout Eli Heidenreich over the middle for a go-ahead touchdown. Heidenreich, who finished the day with six catches for 72 yards and the decisive score, proved once again why he’s one of Navy’s stand out performers.
Navy’s defense then rose to the occasion, forcing an Army punt and giving the Midshipmen one final possession. A late sequence nearly swung back in Army’s favor when a Horvath run produced a fumble that initially appeared to be recovered by the Black Knights; a replay review, however, ruled Horvath down before losing possession, allowing Navy to maintain control and run out the clock.
The result improves Navy to 10-2 on the season. Marking the first time in program history the Midshipmen have finished with back-to-back 10-win seasons. However, Army fell to a 6-6 record.
413’s Bottomline
Saturday’s game wasn’t just another gridiron contest, it was the latest chapter in a rivalry that dates back to 1890, one steeped in tradition, pageantry, and mutual respect. The Midshipmen’s victory means they retain the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for another year, a tangible symbol of service academy supremacy.
Both teams now turn their attention to postseason opportunities, with Navy slated for the Liberty Bowl against Cincinnati. While Army preparing for its own postseason matchup later this month in the Fenway Bowl against UConn. Nevertheless, for a moment on Saturday, it was all about Baltimore, bragging rights, and another unforgettable Army-Navy game.