Navy throws its way past Air Force in a rare pass-happy service academy shootout

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Six if by air, for a change.

In an oddly pass-happy service academy shootout Navy senior Blake Horvath set a program record for total yards and passed for more yards than any Midshipmen quarterback in 31 years as his squad won 34-31, outdueling an Air Force squad that was led by another prolific day by sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka.

Seniority ruled. And in the chase the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, so did the defending champs.

“You never thought you’d see a day when there were almost 600 passing yards in a service academy game, right?” Navy coach Brian Newberry said after the game saw 588 passing yards, compared to 389 yards of rushing output in a series generally dominated by ground warfare. “Pretty wild.”

Ultimately, it came down to the final two possessions. Navy (5-0) forced a stop. Air Force (1-4) could not.

“The defense has an issue right now and the offense is doing pretty good,” Falcons nose guard Payton Zdroik said. “We know it, everyone knows it; we’ve got to rally and do better as a defense.

“It hurts. … I hurt for my brothers. I’m a senior, so it means a little more to me right now. It’s cutting deep. It’s not a fun thing.”

Air Force Falcons quarterback Liam Szarka (9) throws down field against Navy during the first half Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

The Falcons’ offense, behind Szarka and a career day from tight end Bruin Fleischmann, nearly kept pace, coming back to tie the game at 17, 24, and 31 after the Midshipmen kept moving in front.

Navy moved in front with a field goal with 6:47 remaining, then made the game’s biggest defensive stop when linebacker Jackson Campbell knocked the ball up and out of Szarka’s hand with 3:07 remaining.

“It was awesome to see the ball in the air and finally get the takeaway we needed,” said nose guard Landon Robinson, who caught the loose ball.

Air Force’s defense then couldn’t stop Navy on a third and 8 or, later, a fourth and 2 as Horvath made the necessary plays to keep Szarka and Co. off the field for one final shot.

Navy Midshipmen quarterback Blake Horvath (11) runs past the tackle of Air Force Falcons defensive lineman Daniel Grobe (95) during the second half Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Horvath had answers throughout, amassing a team-record 469 yards.

“I’m glad he’s on our side,” Newberry said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He never flinches, he never panics, he never presses. He just goes out and plays. He’s calm, cool and collected and just a special talent. He’s a winner and that permeates on the rest of our team.”

Navy outgained the Falcons 517-460 as Horvath completed 20-of-26 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns and ran 17 times for 130 yards and a touchdown.

“The guy’s dynamic,” Zdroik said. “He’s actually a lot harder to take down than we anticipated.”

Navy senior receiver Eli Heidenreich set a program record with 243 receiving yards on eight catches with three scores.

There were times Air Force draped Heidenreich in coverage and he made the catch anyway. And there were times he found the soft spots in the defense that teams have exposed throughout the season.

The Falcons have given up 49, 49, 44 and 34 points in their four games against FBS competition.

“Obviously one heck of a football game, right? For everybody here, both squads, they laid it on the line,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “Tremendous game. Just, we didn’t come here to be close.”

Szarka, making his second start, completed 11-of-19 throws for 212 yards and two touchdowns, adding 152 rushing yards with two scores. It was his third consecutive game with 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards after the program had gone seven years without a player accomplishing the feat.

Air Force Falcons tight end Bruin Fleischmann (88) runs down field a head of Navy Midshipmen linebackers Luke Pirris (35) and Marcanthony Parker (56) for a long reception during the first half Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Fleishmann caught six passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns, more than doubling the 138 career receiving yards he had entering the game. And that was after starting 16 consecutive contests.

“Honestly, I just do my job and sometimes they throw it to me and I’ll do my job there, too,” Fleishmann said.

Air Force sophomore kicker Jacob Medina misfired on a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter, which loomed large late in the three-point loss.

Medina later connected on an attempt from 24 yards.

Each team punted just two times.

“We’ve got to make that plays that we’re supposed to make,” Air Force linebacker Blake Fletcher said. “And we’ve also got to make plays that are harder plays, that not everyone’s supposed to make, but that’s football.”

The win removes Air Force from contention for the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. Navy can win it when it plays Army in December or retain it if the three teams go 1-1 against each other.

The Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps march in front of the Air Force fans Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, outside the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium before the start of the Air Force game against Navy in Annapolis, Md. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)