For the second straight year, the Navy Midshipmen walked away with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, edging out Army 17–16 in one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. It was a hard-nosed, old-school football game—exactly the kind that reminds Americans why these service academies matter, even if some folks outside the stadium seemed more interested in protesting than patriotism.
Navy came out red-hot, scoring a touchdown on its opening drive. Blake Horvath did most of the damage, rushing for 45 of the drive’s 75 yards and capping it off with a touchdown run. He also added an 11-yard pass, showing early that the Midshipmen meant business.
Army responded immediately with a mirror-image drive of its own, marching 75 yards over 13 plays and finishing with Cale Hellums powering into the end zone. After that, Navy’s offense hit a wall, with its next three possessions ending in a punt, a fumble, and an interception. Army took advantage, tacking on three field goals to build a 16–7 lead.
Late in the third quarter, Navy finally found some momentum, adding a field goal to cut the deficit to three. Early in the fourth, the Midshipmen forced an Army interception and had the ball at the goal line. A fumbled quarterback sneak briefly set them back, but Horvath rebounded by hitting Eli Heidenreich in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown, and the extra point gave Navy its first lead since the opening drive.
Navy’s defense held firm again, forcing a three-and-out and getting the ball back with under five minutes to play. A potential game-sealing run was initially ruled a fumble, but the call was overturned on review. Facing fourth-and-one, Navy kept the offense on the field, converted, and iced the game the old-fashioned way—by earning it.
With the win, Navy secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy after also defeating Air Force earlier in the season. The game itself stayed true to tradition, featuring just 24 pass attempts compared to 86 rushing plays—no frills, no gimmicks, just football.
President Donald Trump attended the game for the seventh time and his second consecutive year since being elected again. He took part in the coin flip, while protesters displayed lewd anti-Trump signs on the streets leading to the stadium. The protests were expected in the blue city, especially after Trump suggested sending the National Guard to Baltimore to help combat its well-documented crime problem—an issue the city continues to struggle with, frequently ranking among the worst in the nation for violent crime.
Still, inside the stadium, the focus remained where it belongs: on honor, service, and competition. Navy earned its victory, America’s service academies put on a classic, and the Commander-in-Chief showed up to support the troops—ending the day with a reminder that tradition, discipline, and patriotism are still very much alive.
