LANDOVER, Md. — This year’s Army-Navy game was unlike any other, as both teams entered the contest with a combined total of 19 victories this season, marking a record for the storied rivalry. Only one team, however, could celebrate as the victor, aiming for their 20th win—the most significant one of all.
“When you think about it, both programs want to be significant,” stated Navy’s coach, Brian Newberry. “This year, I believe we both made our mark, which perhaps added a layer of importance and interest to this matchup.”
Leading the charge for Navy was Blake Horvath, who outperformed Army’s Bryson Daily, amassing 311 total yards and four touchdowns in a decisive 31-13 victory over No. 19 Army. Horvath’s contributions included 107 passing yards with two touchdowns coupled with an impressive 204 rushing yards and two additional touchdowns.
With this victory, Navy (9-3) ended a two-game losing streak to Army. Meanwhile, Daily, despite finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting, struggled, throwing a touchdown pass but also suffering three interceptions. The Black Knights (11-2), coming off a championship win over Tulane—their first league title—found themselves trailing 14-0 in the second quarter and could not fully recover from that deficit.
After winning their initial six games of the season and briefly appearing in the Top 25, Navy completed a season sweep of both Air Force and Army, reclaiming the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 2019.
“It’s tough to lose that game,” remarked Army’s coach Jeff Monken. “We felt immense pride after our recent victory, but this loss hits hard, especially with the trophy at stake, which we wanted to keep at West Point.”
In front of a crowd that included President-elect Donald Trump, Navy opened the game with a strong 65-yard drive culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Horvath. Daily, who had only been intercepted once all season, had his first major error when a pass was intercepted by Dashaun Peele in the second quarter, allowing Navy to extend their lead to 14-0 with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Horvath to Brandon Chatman. Daily responded by throwing a touchdown pass of 23 yards to Hayden Reed.
While both teams leaned heavily on their running games, they combined for 25 pass attempts. A pivotal moment came in the third quarter when, following a field goal that brought the score to 14-10, Horvath hit Eli Heidenreich, who sprinted down the left sideline for a spectacular 52-yard touchdown. This marked Horvath’s 13th touchdown pass of the season, tying a school record, while Heidenreich’s reception was his sixth TD catch, matching another school record.
Daily failed to connect with an open Casey Reynolds in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, leading Army to settle for another field goal. Later, Navy faced a crucial fourth down near midfield, but Landon Robinson, usually a nose guard, executed a 29-yard fake punt run. Although he fumbled, the Midshipmen managed to recover, and Horvath’s subsequent 1-yard run brought the score to 28-13. Daily was intercepted twice more before the game concluded.
This matchup marked the first of two consecutive Army-Navy games held in Maryland, with the next game scheduled to take place in Baltimore next year.
**Key Takeaways**
For Army, the season has seen historic moments, yet those sentiments are overshadowed by the sting of losing to their rivals. Daily finished with just 65 passing yards and a mere 52 rushing yards. “Even though it’s been a good season, losing this game diminishes that,” Monken added.
Conversely, Navy emerged victorious, solidifying its claim to five significant wins this season and elevating Newberry’s standing in his second year as head coach. “Building a culture based on love and trust takes time, especially with the current changes in college football,” Newberry reflected. “However, we’re fortunate to still have those values at the academies, which is why I consider this one of the best jobs in the country.”
**Motivation**
While both teams enjoyed various successes throughout the season, Army came into this game with a conference title and a notable ranking, alongside winning the Joe Moore Award for having the nation’s top offensive line. In contrast, Navy appeared eager to prove something on the field.
“We didn’t win a Joe Moore, but we dominated the rushing stats with 271 to 113 yards,” remarked Horvath. “Those are just the facts.”
**Poll Implications**
Following this defeat, Army risks falling out of the Top 25 but still has an opportunity to redeem themselves in an upcoming bowl game.
**Next Matchups**
Army will take on Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on December 28, facing a new opponent after Marshall’s withdrawal from the game. Navy is scheduled to face Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 27.
