Skip to Main Content

Navy upsets Army in rivalry game: Midshipmen stifle Black Knights to claim 2024 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

Navy defeated Army 31-13 on Saturday to take home the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, and it was a much-deserved win. The Midshipmen opened the game with a 65-yard touchdown drive and never gave up the lead from there. The Navy offense provided plenty of big plays to put points on the board, while the defense stifled Army all afternoon.

The star of the game was Navy quarterback Blake Horvath, who excelled on the ground and in the air as he finished with 204 yards rushing and a two touchdowns rushing while also throwing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The big play was a 52-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich in the third quarter that extended Navy's lead to 21-10 after Army opened the second half with a field goal.

Army just could not match the output. Quarterback Bryson Daily had an outstanding season and earned enough votes to finish sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting, but he had no room to run on Saturday against the stifling Midshipmen defensive attack. Daily was held to only 52 yards rushing, though he did throw for a score. It's only the second time this season Daily failed to score a rushing touchdown.

It's also the first time since 2010 that this game included three or more passing touchdowns. The win gives Navy its 17th Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, which trails Air Force's 21 for most all-time.

CBS Sports will update this story shortly with takeaways. 

Updates
(46)
See New Posts
 
Pinned
Link copied

This is a massive win for Brian Newberry and Navy

This was only Newberry's second Army-Navy Game in charge of the Naval Academy, but it was important for him to get his first win. Not for himself, but for the Academy as a whole.

Navy dominated this series for nearly 20 years, winning 16 of 18 meetings between 1997 and 2015, but the tide has turned in recent seasons. Army had not only won six of the last eight meetings entering the season, but it showed up in Navy's conference this year and won it on the first try.

Navy hasn't won the league in any of its 10 seasons.

But you know what? None of that matters. Navy won this game, and the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy is heading to Annapolis. In the end, that's all that matters to either of these teams.

December 15, 2024, 12:01 AM
Dec. 14, 2024, 7:01 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Turnovers were crucial

Any time there's a game between service academies, turnovers will have a tremendous impact. They're important in every game. But in ones like this, when there are fewer possessions, they take on greater significance.

What's truly wild is there were five fumbles in the game but all were recovered by the fumbling team.

What's wilder than that is Army came into the game with the lowest overall turnover rate on offense this season and the fewest total turnovers with five. And then it turned the ball over three times in this game.

Bryson Daily doesn't drop back to pass often, but when he does, he takes care of the football. He'd thrown only one interception all season, but Navy made him uncomfortable all game and forced him into throwing three today. There was simply no way Army could overcome the mistakes.

December 14, 2024, 11:57 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:57 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy's defense deserves a ton of credit

While Blake Horvath will (deservedly) receive plenty of accolades, we shouldn't overlook the job the Navy defense did in this game. It was clear what Navy's gameplan was: take away the Army rushing attack and force Bryson Daily to become a dropback passer to find explosive plays. It's been the same approach every team that's faced Army this season took but few succeeded.

Navy dominated.

Army was held to 113 yards rushing, averaging only 2.9 yards per carry. Not even the Notre Dame defense was as effective, as Army managed 207 yards on 3.6 yards per carry in that game.

The longest rush Army managed all game was a 12-yard pickup by Kanye Udoh (53 yards on 14 carries). Daily didn't have a rush greater than 5 yards in the entire game.

December 14, 2024, 11:55 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:55 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Blake Horvath was a revelation

Blake Horvath was having a solid season for Navy, but I'm not sure anybody saw this performance coming. He had been knocked out of Navy's loss to Tulane with an injury to his throwing shoulder that kept him out of Navy's last game against East Carolina. It was reasonable to question whether Horvath would be available to play this game, or if he'd even be 100% if he did play.

Well, if this wasn't Horvath at 100%, I fear what he's capable of at full strength.

Horvath threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the game, which feels out of line for a service academy but is in line with what he's done all year. It's eighth time he's thrown for at least 100 yards in a game this year and the fifth time he's thrown multiple touchdowns.

However, his rushing total of 204 yards was the most he's had in a game since rushing for 211 against Memphis back on Sept. 21, and that was in a 56-44 shootout that saw few tackles made. He hadn't rushed for more than 129 yards in any other game this season.

What was truly remarkable is that Horvath had a game on the ground everybody expected from Army's Bryson Daily, who entered the game tied with Boise State's Ashton Jeanty for most rushing touchdowns this season with 29.

December 14, 2024, 11:51 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:51 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied
December 14, 2024, 11:29 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:29 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy extends the lead to 18 with a field goal

Q4: Navy 31, Army 13

Army will need a miracle now.

Navy takes advantage of the interception by getting a 27-yard field goal to extend its lead to 18 points. More important than the three points, however, was the three minutes of game clock the Midshipmen offense took off the clock doing so.

Army is out of timeouts and has only 3:45 left to get three scores. I'm going to say the odds aren't great.

December 14, 2024, 11:23 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:23 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Blake Horvath continues to be a wagon

Horvath just tacked another 48 yards onto his rushing total and Navy is inside the Army 15. Horvath is up to 199 yards rushing on 24 carries.

Army has 178 yards total.

December 14, 2024, 11:13 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:13 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

When things are going your way....

Bryson Daily rolls to his left to buy time, crosses the line of scrimmage, and unleashes a pass back across the field. It's picked off, but then comes loose but before hitting the ground it finds the welcome arms of another Navy defender.

It's a turnover, and Navy gets the ball back at midfield with 7:24 left to play ahead by 15 points.

It's been that kind of day for both teams.

December 14, 2024, 11:10 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:10 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied
December 14, 2024, 11:07 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:07 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy takes a two touchdown lead

Q4: Navy 28, Army 13

That should just about do it. Army needed a stop, but Navy didn't oblige. It's a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive kept alive by a brilliant fake punt and finished by a 1-yard touchdown run from Blake Horvath.

Horvath is now up to 144 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Army only has 167 yards as a team.

With only 8:50 remaining, and Army down to one timeout, it'll be extremely difficult for the Knights to mount a comeback.

December 14, 2024, 11:01 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 6:01 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Fake punt!!!

Navy with the trickery! Facing a fourth down at midfield, the Midshipmen run a fake by getting the ball to defensive lineman Landon Robinson, who picks up 30 yards. Of course, it was also nearly a disaster as Robinson, who isn't used to carrying the ball, fumbled when tackled but Navy was able to get back on the ball.

That fake may have just iced the game.

December 14, 2024, 10:54 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:54 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Army cuts the lead with another field goal

Q4: Navy 21, Army 13

The good news for Army is it got a 31-yard field goal to make it a one-score game. The bad news is it needed 13 plays to move 45 yards and burned 6:43 of game time in the process. There's still 14:44 left to go in the game, but further complicating matters is Army used two timeouts on the possession, leaving them with only one.

Now Army needs to get a stop and a touchdown and two-point conversion to force overtime. Another Navy score would likely ice the game, unless it comes very quickly.

December 14, 2024, 10:47 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:47 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Bryson Daily missed a wide open receiver in the end zone

Casey Reynolds runs a double-move and finds himself WIDE OPEN in the end zone, but Bryson Daily's throw sails over his head and out of reach. Huge miss.

December 14, 2024, 10:41 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:41 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

END 3Q: Navy 21, Army 10

Navy leads Army 21-10 after three quarters, and the Midshipmen have been able to expand their lead in the second half. After leading 14-7 at halftime, Army opened the second half with a field goal drive, but Navy wasted little time responding as Blake Horvath hit Eli Heidenreich for a 52-yard touchdown less than 2 minutes later.

Not all hope is lost for Army, though. The Knights ended the third quarter with their offense in the red zone looking to cut this down to a one-score game.

To do so, Army will have to solve a Navy run defense that's proven tough through 45 minutes. Army has rushed for 111 yards as a team but is averaging only 3 yards per carry. Compare that to Navy QB Blake Horvath, who has rushed for 101 yards by himself.

December 14, 2024, 10:37 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:37 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Army is a mess

Their run game continuing to falter, Army is forced to make a decision on fourth-and-6 at its 45-yard line. Jeff Monken leaves the offense out, but the Knights take too much time to get lined up, and Bryson Daily is forced to burn a timeout.

Now Army not only faces a critical fourth down while down two scores late in the third quarter, but it's down a timeout that could prove crucial later in the game. Just a mess all around.

The good news for Army is Navy is called for roughing the passer on fourth down to extend the drive. There was also a flag for pass interference, but Army declined the penalty. 

December 14, 2024, 10:26 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:26 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Eli Heidenrich has arrived

Q3: Navy 21, Army 10

Navy is suddenly a quick-strike offense. Blake Horvath drops back, finds Eli Heidenreich with a pass along the sideline, and all he has to do is shake a tackler and it's 52 yards down the sideline for the score.

It's Horvath's second touchdown pass of of the game and he's now up to 107 yards through the air and 101 on the ground. Horvath and Army's Bryson Daily have combined for three passing touchdowns already today, which is the most in any Army-Navy Game since 2010.

As for Heidenreich, it's been obvious that Army's defensive intention was to take him out of the game, and up until that touchdown, it had been successful.

December 14, 2024, 10:18 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:18 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Army cuts the lead with a field goal

Q3: Navy 14, Army 10

Army went 47 yards in 11 plays and kept its drive alive by drawing a pass interference on a surprise pass on fourth down, but Navy's run defense continues to play well and was able tos tall the drive. After an incomplete pass from Bryson Daily, Trey Gronotte hit a 39-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10.

The drive started with a 12-yard gain by Kanye Udoh, but outside of that run, Army was stifled. Daily has attempted 10 passes, which is not the recipe for success with this Army offense. He has not been able to get anything going on the ground, as he's been held to 2.4 yards per carry, and hasn't had a run longer than 5 yards.

December 14, 2024, 10:12 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:12 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

The second half is underway

Army begins the half with the ball at the Army 30.

December 14, 2024, 10:01 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 5:01 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

HALFTIME: Navy 14, Army 7

We've got an excellent one on our hands in the 125th edition of the Army-Navy Game. It looked as if we could be in for a one-sided contest early after Navy scored a touchdown on its opening possession and would tack on a second to go ahead 14-0 as Army struggled to do anything on offense.

Army finally broke through in the second quarter to cut the lead in half, however, but the Black Knights have struggled to find consistency on offense otherwise. They managed only 56 yards rushing, averaging a scant 2.9 yards per carry.

Both quarterbacks in the game are playing well. Navy's Blake Horvath has thrown for 55 yards and rushed for another 98 with a touchdown through the air and on the ground. Army's Bryson Daily, who has been dealing with a cut on his non-throwing hand since having it stepped on early in the game, threw a touchdown as well. He's at 50 yards passing, but he has been held to 30 on the ground.

Army will get the ball to start the second half and try to tie this game up.

December 14, 2024, 9:40 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 4:40 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy gets a stop and another chance to score before halftime

The Navy defense is having an outstanding day. Aside from the touchdown drive, Army hasn't been able to do much of anything, and it's because Navy is holding them to 2.9 yards per carry on the ground.

Navy gets the ball at its 35 with 1:25 to play and two timeouts. We'll see how aggressive they want to get here.

December 14, 2024, 9:34 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 4:34 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy forced to punt

Staying ahead of the chains is so critical in this matchup. Blake Horvath shakes a defender and takes off for 37 yards to get into Army territory, but on the very next play the Midshipmen lose yards, and two plays later they're forced to punt because of it.

Army gets the ball with a chance to tie before halftime at its 8-yard line with just over 4 minutes to work with.

December 14, 2024, 9:22 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 4:22 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

I thought this was Army-Navy?

Q2: Navy 14, Army 7

Army is finally on the board, and it didn't get there on the ground. Bryson Daily hits Hayden Reed on a jump pass for a 23-yard touchdown to cap off an 8-play, 65-yard drive. It was a sorely needed drive for Army too.

After managing only 25 yards and two first downs on their first two possessions, the Knights picked up three first downs on their third possession, and converted on a crucial fourth down to keep the drive alive.

December 14, 2024, 9:17 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 4:17 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy wastes no time taking advantage of the turnover

Q2: Navy 14, Army 0

Turnovers are crucial in this game, and Navy took advantage of the first one in the game. The Midshipmen march 44 yards in 3 plays following the interception with Blake Horvath hitting Brandon Chatman for an 18-yard touchdown pass on a wheel route out of the backfield.

The big play of the drive was a 21-yard run by Horvath, who originally dropped back to pass, saw nobody option and took off.

Horvath is having a great day so far, as he's thrown for 49 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown. He has 97 yards by himself while Army only has 25 as a team.

December 14, 2024, 9:05 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 4:05 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Interception!

Army came into the day with only five turnovers on the season. The lowest number in the country.

They just had their sixth.

Bryson Daily dropped back on third down, held the ball far too long, and then made a bad throw that was picked off by Navy's Dashaun Peele. It's Peele's fifth interception of the season, and only the second thrown by Daily.

The Midshipmen get the ball with great field position again at the Army 44.

December 14, 2024, 8:59 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:59 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

END 1: Navy 7, Army 0

We're through one quarter of The Army-Navy Game, and it looks a lot like what you'd expect from a game between two option offenses -- there have been a lot of runs and very few plays because the clock never stops.

That said, Navy may only be up a touchdown, but it's been the far more successful of the two. Navy went 65 yards on the opening possession of the game, picking up 31 yards on a screen pass and converting on three third downs to keep the drive alive. Blake Horvath cashed in at the end with a 1-yard touchdown run that serves as all the scoring we've seen so far.

Army hasn't had nearly as much success. The Black Knights' first possession picked up only 13 yards before resulting in a punt. Making matters worse, QB Bryson Daily had his hand stepped on. His left hand is bandaged as Army has the ball to start the second quarter and faces a decision on fourth-and-short.

December 14, 2024, 8:50 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:50 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied
December 14, 2024, 8:48 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:48 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy loses roughly a mile on a bad pitch

When you have two offenses that pitch the ball and run a lot, fumbles can often determine outcomes. Navy avoided losing the ball here, but losing 14 yards on a bad pitch is not a recipe for long-term success. While Horvath was able to get on the loose ball before Army, this play derails Navy's latest possession and leads to a punt.

Army's second possession will begin at its 12-yard line.

December 14, 2024, 8:44 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:44 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy forces an Army punt

Army's first possession of the day didn't accomplish much. The Knights managed only 1 first down and 13 yards before having to punt. The most interesting part of the possession is that Army QB Bryson Daily is already bleeding. There's a cut on his non-throwing hand that doesn't look too serious, but makes for a cool visual.

December 14, 2024, 8:37 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:37 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Navy strikes first

Navy 7, Army 0

That's an impressive way to start the game. After getting excellent field position following a kickoff out of bounds, Navy goes 65 yards in 12 plays that included three conversions on third down. The biggest play was a 31-yard screen pass to Alex Tecza that got the Mids into the red zone, and it was capped off by a 1-yard QB sneak from Blake Horvath.

And, in traditional service academy manner, the drive took over 6 minutes off the clock.

December 14, 2024, 8:28 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:28 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

How many fakes can you fit in one screen pass?

December 14, 2024, 8:18 PM
Dec. 14, 2024, 3:18 pm EST
See More