It was another thrilling week for Service Academy football, as Navy, Army, and Air Force all took center stage in a series of statement games that defined the early stretch of the 2025 season. On Yards and Stripes: Service Academy Football, hosts Price Atkinson and Steve Carney broke down Navy’s wild win over Air Force, Army’s steady climb back in the American conference standings, and what’s ahead for all three academies this weekend.
Navy Survives Air Force in Offensive Shootout
In front of one of the largest crowds in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium history, the Midshipmen edged Air Force 34–31 in a Commander-in-Chief Trophy thriller. Quarterback Blake Horvath turned in a historic performance—throwing for 339 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 130 more—to become the first Navy player since 2000 to post a 300/100 game.
Senior wideout Eli Heidenreich was equally electric, hauling in eight receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns, matching a school single-game record and setting the career receiving TD mark with 14. Despite allowing 460 yards of offense, Navy’s defense sealed the game late when linebacker Jackson Campbell disrupted a pitch that led to a decisive turnover.
“This was Rocky Balboa versus Apollo Creed,” Carney said. “Both teams just kept trading punches until that one defensive play decided it.”
The victory pushed Navy to 5–0 for the first time since 1979, giving them the inside track in the race for the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.
Army Grounds UAB for First Conference Win
While Navy was lighting up the scoreboard, Army got back to basics. The Black Knights traveled to Birmingham and beat UAB 31–13 behind a disciplined, run-heavy attack. Quarterback Cale Hellums ran for three touchdowns as Army racked up 247 rushing yards while forcing two turnovers.
Head coach Jeff Monken’s emphasis on fundamentals paid off. Army avoided turnovers and contained UAB quarterback John Lincoln, who entered the game among the national passing leaders but was held well below his averages. The win improved Army to 2–3 overall and gave them their first American conference victory.
Weekend Preview: Army, Navy, Air Force All Back in Action
The coming weekend offers another packed slate for service academy fans:
- Charlotte at Army (12 PM ET, CBS Sports Network): Army looks to defend home turf and move to .500 against a Charlotte team struggling against the run.
- Air Force at UNLV (3:30 PM ET, CBS Sports Network): The Falcons face the unbeaten Rebels, who are off to their best start in 51 years under new head coach Dan Mullen.
- Navy at Temple (4 PM ET, ESPN2): The Midshipmen seek to stay unbeaten in AAC play, but Temple’s ball security—they’re the only FBS team yet to commit a turnover—makes them a dangerous opponent.
Price and Steve both predicted wins for Army and Navy, but split slightly on Air Force’s chances. Price leaned toward a dominant UNLV victory, while Steve foresaw a more competitive matchup.
Looking Ahead
With Navy undefeated and Army showing renewed discipline, the Service Academy football race is heating up. As Price put it, “These teams don’t just play for wins—they play for pride, tradition, and each other.”
Expect more fireworks, grit, and pageantry as the Commander-in-Chief Trophy chase continues.
Listen to “Yards And Stripes: Navy Stays Perfect, Army Rebounds” on Spreaker.
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