LANDOVER, MARYLAND — Saturday’s one hundred and twenty fifth installment of the Military-Navy Recreation featured a matchup of two extremely proficient groups, however on paper, one would possibly give the benefit to the Black Knights. Military entered Saturday’s recreation with an 11-1 document to their credit score, a rating of No. 22 within the nation, an ACC Championship Trophy already again at West Level, and with quarterback Bryson Every day calling the indicators, the sixth-leading vote-getter on this 12 months’s Heisman Race.
However Navy had Blake Horvath.
Navy’s sign caller had been out of motion since injuring his rib in mid-November throughout a loss to Tulane. Nevertheless, he was again within the beginning lineup for the Midshipmen, and was instrumental in Navy’s 31-13 win over Military.
Horvath was concerned in each of Navy’s scoring performs within the first half, opening the scoring with a one-yard plunge on the primary possession of the sport. Horvath then staked Navy to a 14-0 lead halfway via the second quarter, connecting with Brandon Chatman from 18 yards out for his twelfth landing move of the season:
Shortly after the second half resumed, Military reduce Navy’s benefit to 14-10 with a area aim on their first possession of the third quarter. However that’s when Horvath struck once more, connecting with Eli Heidenreich for a 52-yard landing that despatched the Brigade of Midshipmen right into a frenzy, and each passer and receiver into the document books:
The connection was Horvath’s thirteenth landing move of the season, matching a faculty document set by Ricky Dobbs again in 2010. It was additionally Heidenreich’s sixth landing reception of the season, pulling him degree with the Navy document held by 4 gamers: Rob Taylor, Chris Weiler, Ryan Learn, and New York Giants legend Phil McConkey.
The Navy quarterback was not accomplished. After a daring faux punt from the Midshipmen labored, with defensive lineman Landon Robinson rumbling for a 29-yard achieve to transform a 4th-and-5 state of affairs, Horvath completed off the drive by plunging into the tip zone from a yard out, giving Navy a 28-13 lead with just below 9 minutes remaining:
Then after Every day threw his second interception of the sport, Horvath ripped off one other large run, a 48-yard achieve right down to the Military 12-yard line with 6:23 left within the contest. With Navy nursing a 28-13 lead at that time, all that was left for Navy to do was to complete off the drive, and ship the Midshipmen again to West Level with their second lack of the season, and one that may sting at that.
Navy put collectively another scoring drive whereas working over three minutes off the clock, settling for a Nathan Kirkwood 27-yard area aim to push the rating to 31-13, Navy.
For the Midshipmen it was their second win over a ranked opponent this season. The final time that Navy did that? That got here again in 1958.
“Blake Horvath is a particular younger man,” mentioned Navy head coach Brian Newberry in his post-game press convention. “He’s battled via some actually tough accidents this 12 months, and we weren’t positive if he was going to have the ability to play on this recreation.
“Thought he performed extraordinarily properly right now … general I believed he was excellent.”
As for Horvath, he completed the sport having accomplished 4-of-9 passes for 107 and a pair of touchdowns, whereas including one other pair of touchdowns on the bottom, and 204 speeding yards.
All whereas placing his title into not simply the Navy document books, however faculty lore as properly.