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Bloody hand and all, Blake Horvath powers Navy to win over Army
Navy Midshipmen quarterback Blake Horvath (11) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Army Black Knights during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Bloody hand and all, Blake Horvath powers Navy to win over Army

In a game that embodies the physical nature of football more than any other, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath powered through and made what was one of the most important plays of Saturday's Army-Navy game. 

After tossing a touchdown that put the Midshipmen up 17-16, Horvath nearly became the goat, pun intended, of Saturday's contest instead of the hero. 

On a third down and short with under three minutes to play, Horvath fumbled on his second consecutive carry. While he did manage to regain control of the ball in the air, the play was originally ruled a recovery by Army. 

Blake Horvath saves the win for Navy

Upon further review, however, Horvath had control of the ball when his knee hit the ground, setting up a fourth and short for Navy that would decide the game. 

Horvath emerged from the pile beaten and bloody, but knowing that, in all likelihood, he had just saved the game. 

A first down run from Alex Tecza sealed the victory — Navy's second in a row — and a second consecutive 10-win campaign for Navy.

"Absolute warrior," Navy head coach Brian Newberry told CBS. "Didn't play his best game today, but kid doesn't flinch, plays the next play... he found a way to win a game for us." 

It was Horvath's effort that will be talked about around Annapolis until Army and Navy meet on the gridiron again in 2026. 

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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