Navy quarterback Blake Horvath runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Army, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

BALTIMORE — Blake Horvath to Eli Heidenreich.

That’s the connection that led Navy to such a memorable season — and the two of them came through again on the biggest play of the biggest game.

Horvath threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining — on fourth-and-goal — and No. 22 Navy rallied to beat Army 17-16 on Saturday. Heidenreich, the career and single-season leader in yards receiving for the Midshipmen, caught six of Horvath’s seven completions on the day.

“Who wouldn’t go to him?” Horvath said. “Talk about an all-time Navy legend. You’re going to be talking about Eli Heidenreich for years and years and years.”

Although it was clearly a passing situation, and Heidenreich was Navy’s top target, he was single covered over the middle.

“Tried to bring some pressure on them,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “Good throw and good catch.”

With President Donald Trump in attendance, Navy (10-2) got its second straight victory over Army (6-6), and the Midshipmen won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season. The Black Knights have not beaten a Navy team that was ranked by the AP since 1955.

Horvath was fortunate to have the chance to throw that decisive touchdown pass. On second-and-goal from the 1, he lost the ball while attempting a tush push. Army linebacker Eric Ford had a chance to scoop it up, but Navy running back Alex Tecza lunged over to prevent that, and Heidenreich eventually fell on the ball back at the 8.

Huskies win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Demond Williams Jr. threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second quarter, and Washington had five interceptions as the Huskies kicked off bowl season with a 38-10 victory over Boise State in the LA Bowl.

Denzel Boston made a 78-yard TD catch for Washington’s first score before Dezmen Roebuck, Raiden Vines-Bright and Quentin Moore caught TD passes for the Huskies in the school’s fourth victory in its last five bowl games. Coach Jedd Fisch’s Huskies had no players opt out of bowl participation from their solid Big Ten roster, and it showed in their overwhelming performance against the Mountain West champion Broncos.

SC State celebrates

ATLANTA — Ryan Stubblefield found Jordan Smith on a two-point pass in the fourth overtime and South Carolina State defeated Prairie View A&M 40-38 in the 10th Celebration Bowl, the matchup between the champions of the MEAC and SWAC.

After both teams kicked field goals in the first overtime, Cornelius Davis intercepted a Stubblefield pass on the first possession of the second overtime. Prairie View, needing any score to win, set up Diego Alfaro for a 31-yard field goal but he missed. Both teams failed to score when the game went to two-point tries in the third overtime.