Navy quarterback Blake Horvath‘s breakout season ended with a bang at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against Oklahoma.
The junior quarterback tied the game at 14 with the longest run in Navy history.
Horvath scored a 95-yard touchdown. Oklahoma linebackers initially pursued Navy running back Eli Heidenreich, giving Horvath a lane up the middle of the Sooners’ defense.
Oklahoma defensive back Woodi Washington (No. 5) caught Horvath near the goal line, and officials initially ruled the Navy quarterback down at the Sooners 1-yard line.
The call was overturned upon review, giving Horvath his 16th rushing touchdown this season.
Entering Friday’s game, Horvath had 157 carries, 1,091 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games.
In head coach Brian Newberry’s second season leading the program, Horvath propelled the Midshipmen to their first winning season since 2019.
Oklahoma (6-6) has had a rough December off the field. Per On3, the Sooners rank 67th out of 70 teams in the site’s transfer portal team rankings, having lost 26 players.
Navy is seeking its third consecutive bowl game win. Its last loss was to Louisiana Tech in the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl, 48-45.
Service academies are 5-0 in their last five appearances in the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force won the previous two years, while Army won in 2021, 2018 and 2017.
Through three quarters, Horvath has 11 carries, 135 yards (12.3 yards per attempt) and a touchdown.
