3 Navy Midshipmen to watch out for in 2024 Army-Navy rivalry game ft. Blake Horvath
The Navy Midshipmen will end their regular season in the annual Army-Navy game in Landover, Maryland. The Naval Academy will look to upset the Army Black Knights, who won the American Athletic title in their first year in the Conference.
The Midshipmen (8-3, 6-2 in the AAC) come into the game having lost three of five games after opening the season 6-0. While the Mids have lost three of their last four against West Point, the last three have been decided by one possession.
Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7 but lost six of the last eight meetings versus Army (11-1, 8-0 in the AAC). The winner of the Army-Navy game will also take the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. It would be the Midshipmen's first since 2019.
These players could help the Midshipmen break out of the slump.
3 Navy Midshipmen to watch out for in the rivalry game
#3. Colin Ramos, Linebacker
The Army and Navy run similar offensive schemes, so defenses have controlled games lately. Ramos leads the Midshipmen with 110 tackles (46 solo). The senior linebacker had 16 stops against the Cadets last year and is the top player on the defense.
The Black Knights bring in the nation's top rushing attack, with 314.4 yards per game. Quarterback Bryson Daily has been among the toughest runners to stop, with 1,480 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. Ramos and the defense must step up if they expect to limit Army's attack once again.
#2. Alex Tecza, Fullback
The Academies run a different kind of offense than most in the country, so fullbacks play an essential role. Tecza has 501 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns for the Naval Academy this year.
Grinding out yards against the Black Knights' defense will be essential to control the clock and keep Daily and the Army clock-eating offense on the sidelines.
Also, one of the reasons the Cadets have won games lately is their ability to stop Navy drives close to the goal line. In 2023, the Midshipmen were stopped inside the Army 1-yard line on 4th and goal in the closing seconds of the Black Knights 17-11 win.
#1. Blake Horvath, Quarterback
It's difficult to envision a scenario in which the Mids upsets the Black Knights without a brilliant game from Horvath. The junior quarterback led the Midshipmen with 895 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Yet, his most significant role might come through the air.
Horvath last played on Nov. 16, as he has been working through a rib injury, but is expected to start and should play an important role for the Mids.
Horvath is a better passer than most Midshipmen quarterbacks. His 1,238 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air pose a bigger threat to Army than other quarterbacks in the most recent games in the series. West Point is stingy against the pass, allowing 193.9 yards per game, but passing might be the Naval Acedemy's best shot at winning.
The Hilliard, Ohio native was only intercepted four times in the year. The Black Knights have created turnovers in recent wins over the Naval Academy, so avoiding mistakes is vital for Horvath.