Navy football has a tremendous senior class that has turned the program’s trajectory around.

As freshmen and sophomores, they were part of teams that posted a combined record of 9-15. As juniors, they sparked a dramatic turnaround as Navy compiled a 10-3 mark, captured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and upset Oklahoma of the powerful Southeastern Conference in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Now, as seniors, they have backed up that 2024 performance with another wildly successful season. Leading the way on offense the past two years has been quarterback Blake Horvath, fullback Alex Tecza and snipe Eli Heidenreich. Spearheading the defense has been nose guard Landon Robinson and outside linebackers Luke Pirris and Jaxson Campbell.

Fittingly, the decorated senior class avoided a disaster on Saturday against Army at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

For the better part of three quarters, disaster appeared likely. Much to the dismay of the Brigade of Midshipmen and all the home faithful, it looked like the seniors were going to get stuck with a loss to archrival Army, which was playing exactly the type of game it needed on both sides of the ball and led by nine points after kicker Dawson Jones booted his third field goal early in the third quarter. Up until that point, the Navy offense looked discombobulated, while the defense was providing little resistance.

Horvath was playing perhaps his worst game in two seasons as a starter, having committed two turnovers, delivered some errant throws and struggled to get anything going on the ground.

On the other side of the ball, Robinson and company spent the first half on their heels — kept off-balance by an Army offense that was doing a lot of shifting and motioning.

Then, the tide shifted.

Navy started making all the key plays while (let’s be honest) getting some big breaks along the way. The Midshipmen dominated the second half, rallying to beat the Black Knights, 17-16.

The comeback began after the defense stiffened and prevented Army from picking up a first down after cornerback Justin Weaver had picked off a poorly thrown pass by Horvath in Navy territory.

Weaver had returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown, and for a moment the Black Knights led 20-7. However, a replay review showed that Weaver’s knee was down when he caught the ball.

Army still got the ball with great field position, but Pirris threw running back Samari Howard for a 5-yard loss on second down to force a third-and-long. The Black Knights could not convert and settled for another field goal to go ahead 16-7.

“Defensively, we had to make some adjustments and lock in to what our jobs were. We had to go out and execute,” Robinson said. “We came together as a defense at halftime, did what we had to do and were able to dominate. We were able to get our swagger back.”

Related Articles

• 
  Army-Navy Game: St. Mary’s grad Jack Bousum doesn’t regret picking Black Knights, despite loss

• 
  Army-Navy Game: Mids rally to dramatic 17-16 victory in Baltimore

• 
  Army-Navy Game: First-year Navy AD Michael Kelly soaks up experience

• 
  Army-Navy Game: What does the Brigade of Midshipmen ‘whoop’ chant mean?

• 
  Army-Navy Game day | PHOTOS

Army had 11 first downs and 186 total yards following its first possession of the second half. The Black Knights did not pick up a first down and managed only 14 total yards on their final three possessions.

Navy answered that Army field goal with one of its own, a 21-yard chip shot by Nathan Kirkwood that made it a one-score game. Horvath set up that score with a spectacular 37-yard run in which he broke multiple tackles and eluded several others.

Having watched Army use its grinding ground game to produce a pair of punishing first-half drives that took 7:44 and 8:52 off the clock, everyone at M&T Bank Stadium was anticipating Hellums to lead another. It never happened.

This time, Hellums made his biggest mistake of the game, rolling right to avoid heavy pressure and throwing an ill-advised pass on the run. That throw went right into the arms of Navy cornerback Phillip Hamilton, who had the intended receiver well-covered.

On the sideline afterward, Army coach Jeff Monken could be seen asking Hellums what in the world he was thinking.

“Cale just got a little antsy. He was flushed out, and it really wasn’t very well thought out. He was trying to make a play,” Monken said. “I wish he wouldn’t have thrown it.”

That was one of many plays that left Army players and coaches wondering what could have been. Because the play actually worked exactly as designed, with wide receiver Brady Anderson lining up as a tight end and coming clean off the line of scrimmage.

Anderson was wide-open on a crossing route, but as Hellums stepped up to make the throw, Robinson was in his face. After tucking the ball to scramble, Hellums got outside and had nothing but green grass in front of him. Had he turned upfield, Hellums had room to pick up the first down and likely more.

That interception was the turning point as it set up the game-winning touchdown drive.

Army-Navy Game day | PHOTOS

“That play was electric. Pure passion and pure joy after coming up with the interception,” Hamilton said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without Landon rushing his tail off.”

Navy had a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line and Horvath ran into a mass of humanity while trying to score on a keeper. Somehow, the ball came loose and fell to the turf behind the play. Army linebacker Eric Ford leaned down to scoop it up, but Tecza — having heard Horvath screaming “cover the ball, cover the ball” — dove and deflected it out of Ford’s hands.

That instinctive play enabled Heidenreich to hustle further into the backfield and fall on the fumble. It was a 7-yard loss, but at least the Midshipmen still had a chance to get points.

“That was probably the last thing you want to see when you’re on the 1-yard line. You turn around and see the ball bouncing behind you,” Heidenreich said. “Kind of out of my peripheral I saw the ball going behind me. It’s every football player’s natural instinct that nothing else matters, and you’ve got to get on that ball. I was lucky enough to recover that.”

Two plays later, Navy coach Brian Newberry put the chips in the middle of the table.

Instead of kicking a field goal and making it a three-point game, offensive coordinator Drew Cronic dialed up a well-designed play and Horvath delivered a perfect pass into the arms of Heidenreich for an 8-yard touchdown. Kirkwood made the extra point to give Navy its first lead since midway through the first quarter.

On a day that Horvath did not pass the ball well, completing only 7 of 14 attempts with the interception, the Navy coaching staff still put the game on his hands.

“I trust Blake as much as I trust any player in our program. When we need a play, he makes them. He’s done it the past two years,” Newberry said. “There is no hesitation asking him to throw the ball in that situation.”

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath recovers his own fumble in the fourth quarter Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

Army had bracketed Heidenreich quite a bit throughout the game, and he expected a linebacker to drop and do so again on that critical play. Heidenreich also revealed that Horvath had two options on the play and could have thrown the ball to snipe Brandon Chatman on the left side.

With the Army-Navy Game hanging in the balance, Horvath was darn sure going to target the program’s all-time leading receiver.

“In the huddle I was like ‘are you coming to me?’ and Blake gave me the funniest facial expression. It was like ‘Dude, obviously,’” Heidenreich said.

That fumble recovery followed by the game-winning touchdown catch capped another tremendous performance for Heidenreich, who had six receptions for 72 yards.

“Eli is big-time clutch. He’s been that way his whole career. That’s stuff you just can’t coach,” Newberry said.

“Talk about an all-time Navy legend. You’re going to be talking about Eli Heidenreich for years and years. To cap off his career here with that play to win this game is amazing,” Horvath said.

Army got the ball back with 6:32 left, plenty of time to get within range for a go-ahead field goal. Jones had already displayed great range by making a 45- and 48-yarder. However, the Black Knights came up with another empty possession.

Following an incomplete pass and facing fourth-and-12, Monken had no choice but to punt and hope the defense could get a stop. It almost did just that after Navy had picked up a first down and gotten to the Army 41-yard line.

Inside linebacker Kalib Fortner used his helmet to dislodge the ball from Horvath’s arms on a keeper. Miraculously, the ball popped up right in front of Horvath, who snagged it out of midair then extended it out toward the line to gain.

“We’re fortunate the ball bounced back into Blake’s hands on that play and we were in position to go for it on fourth down and end the game right there. The ball bounced our way a couple times,” Newberry said.

It was initially ruled a fumble that Army recovered, but replay review revealed that Horvath had touched the ball to the turf with his elbow down before the ball was ripped loose. Navy maintained possession and put the game away by converting on fourth-and-1, with Robinson being brought into the game to serve as lead blocker for Tecza.

Navy snipe Eli Heidenreich recovers a fumble late in the fourth quarter Saturday. He scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard catch from Blake Horvath on the next play. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

“That game epitomizes our team. Overcoming adversity is what we’re all about. It’s a great way to go out for our class,” said Tecza, who finished with 50 rushing yards.

“It’s just what we do; It’s not just me, it’s the whole team. We just don’t flinch. That’s been our identity,” Horvath said when asked about his ability to put negative plays behind him. “We can get punched in the face and bounce back. It’s a testament to the leadership on this team. We found our footing in the second half.”

Instead of suffering a soul-crushing loss that would have left a huge hole in their legacy, the seniors had an uplifting victory that showed their resiliency and oft-repeated ability to somehow find a way to win.

Navy now has 10 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Midshipmen have claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in consecutive years for the first time since 2012-13.

“This is a special senior class. They’ve seen the down years here, which is why it’s so rewarding to finish up the way they have,” Newberry said. “They’ve worked their tails off and done things the right way. This group is going to leave a legacy behind that is going to make us better moving forward.”

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.