When two service academies collide on the football field, there are several guarantees. One is the respect shown postgame when the alma maters play. Another is a quick, run-oriented game which features limited possessions and a lack of points. However, that latter trend did not materialize in Saturday’s battle between Navy and Air Force in Annapolis.
Possessions were plentiful as Navy and Air Force traded constant touchdowns. In the end, Navy (5-0, 3-0 American) preserved its undefeated record, surviving
Air Force (1-4, 0-3 Mountain West) in a 34-31 shootout. The 65 combined points were the most in any service academy matchup since Navy bested Air Force 48-45 in 2017.
Another stunning trend in a service academy game? Both the Midshipmen and Falcons manufactured more passing yards than rushing yards. Navy quarterback Blake Horvath stole the show with 339 passing yards (fifth-most in Navy history) and three touchdowns in an efficient 20-of-26 showing, while the Midshipmen only rushed for 178. Horvath averaged 13.0 yards per dropback as he consistently connected with his big-play receiver Eli Heidenreich. Heidenreich accounted for 72 percent of Horvath’s production, shattering a Navy school-record with 243 yards and three touchdowns on eight receptions.
Heidenreich set the Navy all-time receiving touchdowns record during a performance for the ages. The Midshipmen trailed Air Force 10-3 in the second quarter, but a 10-yard slant from Horvath to Heidenreich knotted it up. Then less than five minutes of action later, Heidenreich delivered an 80-yard bomb to the playmaking receiver for six, handing Navy a 17-10 advantage. Once again in the fourth quarter to break a tie, this time at 24-24, Horvath launched a 60-yarder to an open Heidenreich to complete the hat trick.
Meanwhile, Air Force countered with 249 passing yards compared to its 211-yard rushing output. Quarterback Liam Szarka was similarly money on downfield shots, and his top target was tight end Bruin Fleischmann who secured 166 yards and a touchdown on six receptions — falling eight yards short of a top 10 receiving performance in Air Force history. Fleischmann scored to match Navy at 24-24 in the early fourth quarter, and later in the period, Air Force re-tied the contest on a 53-yard heave from Szarka to Jonah Dawson.
Both teams successfully used the threat of the run game to get their receivers open downfield with an extra step on the defender. While neither team saw a running back attain over 31 rushing yards, both quarterbacks pulled their weight in the ground game. Horvath contributed 130 yards, most notably flying down the field for a 59-yard scamper in the third quarter. Szarka also eclipsed the century mark with 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the teams concocted very similar offensive performances.
Neither service academy ever led by more than seven points, and the second half was essentially a call-and-response game with Navy initiating and Air Force following. However, the two teams finally gained separation with 6:47 remaining when Midshipmen kicker Nathan Kirkwood sunk a short 34-yard field goal to hand Navy a 34-31 lead.
Air Force received an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Navy’s defense came up with a critical stop. Outside linebacker Jaxson Campbell interrupted a pitch on third down and star defensive tackle Landon Robinson recovered it, giving the Midshipmen possession with 3:07 remaining. And in traditional service academy fashion, Navy chewed up all 3:07 clock to finalize the victory — although three passing plays were called on that critical clock-eating drive.
Air Force now rides a 4-game losing streak after dropping its second-straight matchup to Navy. The Midshipmen now are victors of the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is awarded to the highest-finishing head-to-head record in the annual round-robin of Army, Navy, and Air Force. Navy remains one of 15 undefeated teams in the FBS and one of three in the American and it resumes conference play next Saturday at Temple.
