When Navy football puts together its best seasons, they typically have an incredibly gifted player at quarterback — running and throwing the ball at orchestrating the Mids’ triple-option attack at a high, efficient and entertaining level.
Let’s take a quick spin through some recent history in Annapolis:
In 2015, Keenan Reynolds finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and was the Offensive Player of the Year in the American Athletic Conference after leading the Midshipmen to an 11-2 record while rushing for 1,373 yards and an FBS-best 24 touchdowns, while also throwing for 1,203 yards and eight scores. Reynolds still holds the FBS record for career rushing touchdowns with 88.
The next season, with Reynolds gone and presumed starter Tago Smith injured in the season-opener, former third-stringer Will Worth got his chance to shine, rushing for an FBS-best 25 touchdowns and 1,198 yards while also throwing for 1,397 yards and eight touchdowns. Worth powered the Mids to wins over No. 6 Houston and Notre Dame, and a berth in the AAC title game. In that contest, he and starting slotback Toneo Gulley were injured on the same play.
2019 was Malcolm Perry’s time to shine. After experimenting with the 5-foot-10 sparkplug as a receiver, rusher and returner, Navy finally just gave him the keys to Ken Niumatalolo’s triple-option attack. Navy went 11-2, snapped a three-game losing streak to Army, beat No. 21 SMU, and topped Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl as Perry scampered for an FBS-best 2,017 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also throwing for more than 1,000 yards and seven scores.
The last few years have been tough for Navy. In the four post-Perry seasons, the Mids went a combined 16-30. Navy has lost three of its last four to Army and four straight to Air Force. Niumatalolo was fired and former defensive coordinator Brian Newberry took the reins last season.
And now, things are looking up for the Mids. After winning 41-18 on the road at UAB on Saturday, they’re 4-0, their best start to a season since 2017.
A big reason why is because Navy seems to have another one of Those Dudes at quarterback. A player who, if you squint just a bit, kind of looks like Reynolds, Worth or Perry.
His name is Blake Horvath, and on Saturday against UAB he threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-11 passing while also rushing for 84 yards on 13 carries.
It’s time to start talking about 4-0 Navy#AmericanWay x @NavyFB pic.twitter.com/pUxrBupcvt
— The American (@American_Conf) September 28, 2024
A week ago, the 6-foot-2 junior from Ohio majoring in operations research led the Mids to a 56-44 home win over a Memphis team that was coming off a victory over Florida State by completing 9-of-12 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for – wait for it – 211 yards and FOUR touchdowns.
#CFB’s Fastest Players of Week 4️⃣:
8. @NavyFB’s Blake Horvath
QB, 90-yard TD Run 🤯 20.8 MPH 💨@HorvathBlake #GoNavy #RollGoats pic.twitter.com/QQtG2YgLvm
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 24, 2024
Horvath is currently averaging 112.5 yards rushing and 159.2 yards passing per game. He’s responsible for 15 touchdowns already this season, and he’s commanding a Navy offense that isn’t slowly and methodically grinding teams into dust with the triple-option – the Midshipmen are simply inviting teams to score more points than them. So far, no one has succeeded. Navy is outscoring opponents by an average score of 46-18.
Now, it’s easy to argue that Navy hasn’t played the toughest of schedules so far. Bucknell, Temple and UAB aren’t exactly competing for the College Football Playoff, but you can only beat the teams on your schedule.
Next up for the Mids is a meeting with rival Air Force in Colorado Springs. Then they host Charlotte, and then they face Notre Dame. Navy could be in a position to beat the Irish for the first time since 2016.
It’s unclear what exactly the future holds for Navy this season, but whatever it is, Horvath will be a crucial part of it.