BALTIMORE — Blake Horvath threw an 8-yard landing cross to Eli Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining — on fourth-and-goal — and No. 22 Navy rallied to beat Military 17-16 on Saturday.
Horvath turned the ball over twice, and his fumble close to the objective line practically spoiled Navy’s key drive. On second down from the 1, the ball got here unfastened when the Midshipmen (10-2) tried a tush push, however Heidenreich fell on the ball on the 8.
After an incompletion, Navy, which was trailing 16-10, went for it on fourth down, and Horvath discovered his high receiving menace over the center in the long run zone.
Military then needed to punt, and on third-and-3 from the Military 43, the ball popped unfastened on a run by Horvath, however he caught it out of the air and reached for the primary down. It got here unfastened once more and Military recovered, however after a evaluate, Horvath was dominated down earlier than the second fumble — a yard in need of the primary down.
Alex Tecza then ran for the primary down that enabled Navy to kneel out the clock. In what was at occasions a chippy sport, with some post-play shoving, there was a little bit of a ruckus close to midfield after the ultimate kneel-down earlier than issues ultimately calmed down for the normal singing of the alma maters.
With President Donald Trump in attendance, Navy received its second straight victory over Military (6-6), and the Midshipmen gained the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season. The Black Knights haven’t crushed a Navy crew that was ranked by the AP since 1955.
The groups traded landing drives to start out the sport, every lasting 13 performs, 75 yards and over seven minutes. Horvath scored on a 5-yard run, and Military quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a 2-yarder. Military’s first drive did not finish till 5 seconds into the second quarter.
Then, it was some time earlier than anybody reached the tip zone once more. With Military up 10-7 late within the second quarter, the ball slipped out of Horvath’s hand whereas he was seeking to cross. Military recovered the fumble at its 45 with 20 seconds to play and moved into vary for a 45-yard area objective by Dawson Jones.
Horvath threw an interception within the third, giving Military the ball on the Navy 30, however the Black Knights needed to accept Dawson’s career-long 48-yard area objective.
Navy’s Wing-T offense has been explosive this season. The Midshipmen entered the day with an FBS-high 10 performs of no less than 60 yards. Military largely saved them contained, however Horvath slipped free for a 37-yard run that arrange a third-quarter area objective that made it 16-10.
After Hellums’ underthrown cross was intercepted by Phillip Hamilton, giving Navy the ball on the 50 with 11:19 to play, Tecza’s 24-yard run made it first-and-goal from the 5.
Trump tossed the coin earlier than the sport at midfield, then returned at halftime to stroll from the Navy sideline to the Military one.
Up subsequent for Navy is a Jan. 2 sport in opposition to Cincinnati within the Liberty Bowl. Military faces UConn within the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27.
The Related Press contributed to this report.