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Navy

Horvath, Tecza lead Navy comeback over Temple

by: Mike James10/12/25navybirddog
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Navy stayed unbeaten in dramatic fashion, rallying for a 32–31 win over Temple after scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion in the final minute.

Quarterback Blake Horvath’s 51-yard touchdown run pulled the Mids within one with 37 seconds left, and head coach Brian Newberry opted to go for two. Horvath rolled right and found fullback Alex Tecza in the back of the end zone for the game-winning conversion.

The comeback erased what had been a frustrating night for Navy’s offense, which ran only 17 plays in the first half as the defense struggled to get off the field. Temple controlled possession for more than 34 minutes and outgained the Mids 518–384 behind quarterback Evan Simon’s 345 passing yards. Still, Navy’s defense came up with key red-zone stops to limit the damage and keep the game within reach.

Horvath’s 2-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half helped Navy regain its footing, and Tecza’s third-quarter score tied it at 21–21. After Temple went ahead 31–24 with 1:16 remaining, the Mids needed just five plays to drive 75 yards for the decisive score, securing their sixth straight win and bowl eligibility heading into the bye week.

Key Performers

  • Blake Horvath, QB (Navy): 19 carries, 155 yards, 2 TD; 6-of-16 passing, 141 yards, 1 TD.
  • Alex Tecza, FB (Navy): 30 rushing yards, 1 TD; caught game-winning two-point conversion.
  • Eli Heidenreich, SB (Navy): 106 total yards (72 receiving, 34 rushing).
  • MarcAnthony Parker, LB (Navy): 12 tackles (8 solo), forced fumble.
  • Evan Simon, QB (Temple): 25-of-36 passing, 345 yards, 1 TD; 20 rushing yards and a score.

Quotable

Brian Newberry:

“I told Drew [Cronic] before we got the ball there in the last drive that we’re going to go score a touchdown and we’re going to go for two. I felt like we needed to go for the win right there. Having 11 at quarterback, he wanted the ball in his hands when the game’s on the line. He’s special.”

Blake Horvath:

“That was just straight power for us and our guys blocked it awesome. Alex had a great block, Ben Purvis, great block, the whole offensive line just executed perfectly, honestly.”

Alex Tecza:

“That’s a lot of Blake right there. I trusted him to make that throw. It wasn’t an easy throw. If he hadn’t got the ball off, he would’ve been sacked. He was able to find me in the back of the end zone and we found a way to win.”

MarcAnthony Parker:

“We’re a tough team. We don’t flinch. When stuff gets grimy and gritty, we’re going to keep fighting. That’s what I really love about this team, the camaraderie and the chemistry.”

Temple coach K. C. Keeler:

“It’s not like they have a sophisticated passing game where we felt that they could just pick us apart down the field. Their passing game’s kind of elementary. So we felt it was going to be our advantage, and then again they busted the big run, which killed us obviously.”

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