History Repeated Itself in 125th Army-Navy Clash
The Navy Midshipmen secured a 31-13 victory over the Army Black Knights in their annual rivalry game, marking the Midshipmen’s 63-55-7 lead in the all-time series. The game was played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Navy got off to a strong start, scoring a touchdown on their first drive and turning an interception into seven more points. Army cut their deficit in half before halftime, and a field goal early in the second half made it a four-point game. However, Navy delivered a significant blow with a 52-yard touchdown catch and run by running back Eli Heidenreich late in the third quarter, regaining a 21-10 lead.
The Black Knights responded with a field goal, but the Midshipmen kept their drive alive with a fake punt, which resulted in a 29-yard run by nose tackle Landon Robinson. Four plays later, Blake Horvath rushed in for a touchdown, giving Navy a 28-13 lead.
Army’s hopes for a comeback were dashed when quarterback Bryson Daily threw a wild pass that was intercepted, and the Midshipmen iced the game with a field goal. With the victory, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, having already beaten Air Force earlier in the year.
The game was marked by a rare offensive showing from one side, as the under hit in 18 of the previous 19 seasons. The total, however, was hovering around the 39.5 mark, making over bettors happy.
President-elect Donald Trump made an appearance at the game, marking his first appearance since 2020. He was joined by a star-studded cast, including JD Vance, Elon Musk, Daniel Penny, Mike Johnson, Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth.
The two teams will now focus on their respective bowl games, with Navy facing Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl and Army awaiting their Independence Bowl opponent after Marshall dropped out due to nearly 30 players entering the transfer portal.