ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy Midshipmen rallied behind a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs from backup quarterback Braxton Woodson to defeat No. 25 South Florida 41-38 on Saturday, November 16, 2025, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The victory improved Navy to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the American Athletic Conference, securing a one-game lead in the loss column over several pursuers.
Senior slotback Eli Heidenreich hauled in five passes for 146 yards, including an 82-yard reception that set up an early touchdown. His performance pushed his career total to 1,794 receiving yards, surpassing Rob Taylor’s mark of 1,736 set from 1965 to 1967 and establishing Heidenreich as Navy’s all-time leader in the category.
Senior fullback Alex Tecza rushed 12 times for 126 yards, highlighted by a 76-yard touchdown burst on the game’s second play from scrimmage. He also caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from starting quarterback Blake Horvath in the first quarter. Horvath carried 21 times for 68 yards and completed 8 of 15 passes for 147 yards and that score before yielding to Woodson late in the third quarter. Woodson, a junior, responded with 103 rushing yards on nine carries, including scoring runs of 20 and 64 yards that extended Navy’s lead to 41-30 with 10:43 remaining.
South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown accounted for four touchdowns, passing for 327 yards and two scores while rushing for 136 yards and two more. The Bulls scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, including a 2-yard run by Brown that trimmed the deficit to three with 1:12 left, but Navy recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the outcome. South Florida fell to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play, dropping its second straight road contest and complicating its path to the AAC championship game.
Navy built a 24-9 halftime advantage behind Tecza’s long run, Chatman’s 4-yard scoring dash and a 31-yard field goal. Heidenreich’s 32-yard grab from Woodson ignited an 75-yard drive capped by Woodson’s first touchdown, pushing the margin to 34-24 midway through the fourth. The Midshipmen generated three plays of 60 or more yards, a hallmark of their triple-option attack that ranks second nationally in rushing at 312.1 yards per game.
“First of all, thanks to our fans for coming out,” Navy head coach Brian Newberry said. “It was a sold-out crowd and they were awesome. Hats off to South Florida. That’s a really good football team. Their quarterback is really, really good. I have a ton of respect for Coach Golesh and their staff and what they have been able to do in a relatively short time. Their roster and their culture is really strong.”
South Florida head coach Alex Golesh acknowledged Navy’s resilience. “First of all, for our seniors, in a lot of ways, it was a huge opportunity for our program, and we didn’t get it done,” Golesh said. “A lot of credit to Coach Newberry. This group from Navy is tough, gritty and won a lot of games over the last two years. To go and play on the road against a really good football team in conference, you have to play really high-end football. At times, we did; at times, we didn’t. A lot of credit to them. They are tough. They’re gritty. The quarterback is tough and gritty. We got outplayed at some critical times.”
Woodson credited preparation for his poise in relief. “The comfort comes from practice,” Woodson said. “Just getting a thousand reps in practice, seeing different looks, different possibilities in blitzes, I was able to go in and execute.”
Newberry praised his team’s effort on Senior Day, which honored 22 departing players before a crowd of 38,103 — Navy’s largest home attendance since 2019. “I am so proud of this football team,” Newberry said. “I told them after the game, this is the football team I have been waiting to see all year long. That’s not to say it was perfect; it certainly wasn’t, especially in the second half. But I was so proud. What they did was come out and compete fearlessly. That was the message this week: cut it loose, compete your tails off, play for each other, play for these seniors. I can’t say enough good things about this group. What they have done throughout their time here has been to do things the right way. Worked their tails off, stayed the course, stayed with it. This is exactly what they deserve: to go out like this in their last home game. I couldn’t be happier.”
The win marked Navy’s sixth straight at home, extending a streak of 77 consecutive victories when leading after three quarters dating to 2007. In the AAC, Navy now holds a clear edge with two games remaining, positioned one game ahead of North Texas, Tulane and East Carolina — all at 5-1 — in the race for the conference’s automatic berth to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Navy’s triple-option offense, a fixture since the 1950s under legends like Paul Johnson, continues to confound defenses. The Midshipmen lead the AAC in rushing touchdowns with 28 and rank 12th nationally in red-zone efficiency at 92.3 percent. Heidenreich’s record-breaking catch came on a post route against single coverage, showcasing the slotback’s role in stretching the field — a departure from Navy’s traditional ground-and-pound emphasis.
South Florida travels to UAB on Saturday, November 23, 2025, seeking to rebound in a game that could solidify bowl eligibility. Navy heads to Memphis on November 27, 2025, for a matchup against the Tigers, who sit at 4-6 overall and 2-4 in conference. A win there would clinch at least a share of the AAC title and position the Midshipmen for their first major bowl since the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
The contest highlighted the AAC’s parity, with five teams vying for the top spot entering the week. Navy’s defense, which allowed 458 total yards but forced two turnovers, bent but held firm in crunch time — a trait that has defined Newberry’s tenure since he took over in December 2023. His 15-9 record includes back-to-back winning seasons, a rarity in a program transitioning from Eddie Atkinson’s 21-13 mark.
As the regular season winds down, Navy eyes postseason scenarios. A conference championship would mark the program’s first since 2015 and guarantee a Playoff at-large bid under the new format.
