FORT WORTH, Texas — Navy quarterback Blake Horvath executed the play flawlessly, achieving the longest touchdown run in the school’s history with a remarkable 95-yard sprint during the Armed Forces Bowl.
“By somebody that’s not really that fast,” Horvath humbly commented following the thrilling 21-20 victory over Oklahoma on Friday.
The Midshipmen (10-3) faced a challenging start, falling behind by two touchdowns within the first ten minutes of the match. However, Horvath’s record-setting run late in the third quarter leveled the score at 14-14. He then propelled the team ahead with a 6-yard touchdown with just 4:34 remaining, before Navy’s defense successfully halted Oklahoma’s two-point conversion attempt with only six seconds to go.
“Probably over-pursued by them,” Horvath reflected on his historic 95-yard run. “Some tendencies they showed earlier, just thought I could get a pull.”
Executing a read-option play, Horvath faked a handoff before charging up the middle into open territory. In a pivotal moment, teammate Brandon Chatman managed to block a pursuing defender near the Sooners’ 20-yard line. By the time cornerback Woodi Washington nearly caught up to Horvath, he extended the football across the goal line, where it was initially ruled short before a review confirmed the touchdown.
“Brandon Chatman actually busted his tail to get his butt down the field,” Horvath praised. “I can see him out of the corner of my eye busting his butt. And honestly, it’s almost not even my touchdown without him and the offensive line blocking.”
The previous record for the longest play in Navy history dates back to the Roger Staubach era, when Johnny Sai executed a 93-yard rush against Duke in 1963.
Horvath also recorded a 90-yard touchdown run against Memphis earlier this season, joining the elite company of Malcolm Perry as only the second Navy player to achieve two 90-yard runs in a single season. Perry had runs of 92 and 91 yards in 2017.
“That’s a play we know can hit big, and it did, and definitely exciting to see,” remarked fullback Alex Tecza. “I was getting tired just chasing him. … It’s great. He has been doing that all year.”
