TAMPA, Fla. — Navy’s defense and ground game were in top form on Saturday, propelling the Midshipmen (7-2, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) to a decisive 28-7 victory over the University of South Florida (4-5, 2-3 AAC) before a crowd of 34,091 at Raymond James Stadium. The win keeps Navy’s hopes alive in the race for the AAC title game, setting up a pivotal matchup against Tulane (7-2, 5-0 AAC) at home next weekend.
Navy’s defense held USF to a meager 60 yards on the ground from 25 attempts and limited the Bulls’ offense overall, allowing just 120 total yards in the first half. On offense, Navy leaned into their running game, tallying three rushing touchdowns and an additional passing score as the team led from start to finish.
With only one loss in the AAC, Navy remains within striking distance of both Tulane and Army, which leads the conference at 8-0 overall and 6-0 in AAC play. Army faced North Texas on Saturday afternoon, while Tulane hosted Temple, results that could further impact the standings.
The Midshipmen wasted no time establishing control, scoring on their first two possessions to go up 14-0 early. Navy’s opening drive spanned just four plays and 70 yards, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown run from Eli Heidenreich, putting the Mids on the board.
After a defensive stop, Navy struck again. Kyle Jacob intercepted USF quarterback Bryce Archie, marking his second pick of the season. The turnover set up a 79-yard drive over 13 plays, capped by a 20-yard touchdown run by Brandon Chatman, pushing Navy to a two-score lead.
Navy’s defense continued to dominate through the first half, limiting the Bulls to only 120 yards and effectively stalling USF’s momentum. The Bulls’ struggles were exemplified in the closing seconds of the second quarter. With USF attempting to cut into the lead, Navy’s junior striker Kenneth McShan blitzed Archie, pressuring him to throw an underpowered pass. Sophomore Ira Oniha intercepted the ball at Navy’s 11-yard line and returned it 36 yards, setting up a chance for Navy to extend their lead with just 14 seconds left in the half.
Navy seized the opportunity. On the first play, junior fullback Alex Tecza ran 15 yards to reach the USF 38-yard line. Quarterback Blake Horvath followed with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Tecza, sending the Mids to the locker room with a commanding 21-0 advantage.
In the fourth quarter, Navy extended its lead to 28-0, orchestrating a drive that included a 34-yard fake punt run by nose guard Landon Robinson. The surprise play set up a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Horvath. USF managed to avoid a shutout with a late touchdown with just over a minute remaining, but it had little impact on the game’s outcome.
Navy’s ground attack was relentless throughout, amassing 321 rushing yards. Heidenreich led with 84 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while senior fullback Daba Fofana contributed 75 yards on 15 carries. Horvath completed 6 of his 11 pass attempts for 58 yards, including the touchdown to Tecza, and added 56 rushing yards along with a touchdown.
Defensively, the Midshipmen’s performance was spearheaded by Luke Pirris, who recorded nine tackles and half a sack, and McShan, who added eight tackles. Robinson’s day included both the fake punt run and 1.5 sacks, adding to Navy’s defensive impact.
The victory sets the stage for a crucial home game against Tulane at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium next Saturday at noon. With Navy trailing the top two AAC teams by just one game in the loss column, a win over Tulane could potentially position the Mids for a spot in the AAC Championship.
The Midshipmen’s solid performance on both sides of the ball against USF not only demonstrated their readiness for high-stakes games but also showcased the team’s ability to control games through a powerful ground attack and a stifling defense. With their fate still within reach, the showdown against Tulane could be Navy’s defining moment of the season.
