Bold headline-worthy moment: Navy refused to back down and sealed a dramatic fourth-down rally to topple Army. But here’s where it gets controversial: the sequence near the goal line featured a fumble that sparked debate over momentum and officiating influences in a heated rivalry game.
ESPN News Services
Dec 14, 2025, 10:44 AM
BALTIMORE — Blake Horvath delivered an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 left on the clock, converting a fourth-and-goal play and helping No. 22 Navy (10-2) surge past Army (6-6) by a 17-16 margin on Saturday.
Horvath handed Navy a red-zone turnover risk by fumbling twice, including a near-miss at the goal line on a tush push that Heidenreich recovered at the 8-yard line.
After an incomplete pass, Navy—trailing 16-10—went for it on fourth down. Horvath found his top target in the end zone for the decisive score.
Army then punted, and on third-and-3 from the Army 43, Horvath fumbled during a run but caught the ball out of midair and converted for the first down. The ball popped loose again and Army recovered, but after review, Horvath was ruled down shy of the first down by a yard.
Alex Tecza then ran for the necessary first down, allowing Navy to kneel out the clock. The game featured moments of physical play and post-play shoving, culminating in a brief ruckus near midfield after Navy’s final kneel-down before both teams sang their alma maters in tradition.
President Donald Trump attended the game, witnessing Navy’s second straight win over Army. The Midshipmen also claimed the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second consecutive year. Historically, Army had not defeated a Navy squad ranked by the AP since 1955.
The opening drives both produced touchdowns, each lasting 13 plays and more than 7 minutes, with Horvath scoring on a 5-yard run and Army quarterback Cale Hellums answering with a 2-yard score. Army’s first drive concluded just as the second quarter began.
A lull followed, with scoring sparse until late in the second quarter when Navy fumbled while attempting a pass, giving Army the ball at Navy’s 45 with 20 seconds remaining and setting up a 45-yard field goal by Dawson Jones.
Horvath threw an interception in the third quarter, gifting Army a chance at the Navy 30, but the Black Knights settled for another field goal (Jones’s career-long 48 yards).
Navy’s Wing-T offense has been prolific this season, entering the day with an NCAA-best 10 plays of 60+ yards. Army managed to throttle much of Navy’s big plays, though Horvath did break free for a 37-yard run that helped set up a third-quarter field goal to pull Navy within six.
After Hellums’ underthrown pass was picked off by Phillip Hamilton, Navy gained midfield possession with 11:19 left. Tecza’s 24-yard run propelled Navy to first-and-goal at the five.
Coin toss duties went to Trump before the game and at halftime, when he walked from the Navy sideline to the Army sideline.
Looking ahead: Navy travels to Cincinnati for the Liberty Bowl on January 2, while Army faces UConn in the Fenway Bowl on December 27.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Would you defend Navy’s aggressive fourth-down decision in this game, or question the risk-reward balance of going for it deep in opponent territory on the road? Share your thoughts in the comments.
