Navy football is prepared for takeoff

Raise the sails and drop the anchor on your opponent. That is a mantra that Navy Football has embodied this season. As a result, the Midshipmen currently boast a 5-0 record and the number one spot in the American Athletic Conference.

But just how did this service academy become one of the best Group of Five teams in the country?

Winning is a continued trend for the Midshipmen. Last season, they finished with a 10-3 record with notable wins against a strong Memphis Tigers team, UAB and Air Force. Then, in one of the most storied rivalries in all of college football, Navy flew to a 31-13 win over Army.

To cap off their season, the Midshipmen gutted out a 21-20 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Although that Oklahoma team was nowhere near what it is this season, a win over a big-name SEC team is a huge statement for any program, especially Navy.

Senior quarterback Blake Horvath is a huge component of Navy’s success. Horvath is coming off a game against Air Force where he had the career highs in attempts (26), yards (339) and where he tied his career high in touchdowns with three.

Horvath now has a total of 839 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions on the season. All told, Horvath has a 69.0 QBR, which is the 43rd best in the nation. While this may not seem all that impressive compared to other college quarterbacks, it is especially notable as Navy has been known to run a run-heavy offense.

To aid Horvath in the passing game, Navy has weapons that fly down the field like fighter jets and make plays. Most notable is senior Eli Heidenreich, who exploded against Air Force. Heidenreich caught eight passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons’ secondary. On the season, Heidenreich has 20 receptions for 413 yards and four touchdowns. If Heidenreich continues with more astronomical performances, the sky is the limit for Navy.

Unsurprisingly, a dominant run game is still alive and well in Annapolis. Along with dicing up defenses in the passing game, Horvath leads the team in rushing with 485 yards and 6 touchdowns. Navy’s next best ball carrier is senior running back Alex Tezca, who has put up 379 yards and 4 touchdowns on 57 carries through the first five games.

On the defensive side of the ball, Navy looks almost as strong as its offense. Although they just surrendered 31 points to Air Force this week, which is the most in their young season, the Midshipmen's defense has looked solid in the previous four games.

The strength of their defense starts up front with senior defensive tackle Landon Robinson. Robinson has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks with five sacks through five games, which is leading the team. Even young players are making an impact on defense. Sophomore linebacker MarcAnthony Parker leads the team with 40 total tackles. The secondary has no shortage of young talent either. Sophomore cornerback Justin Ross has 18 total tackles, an interception, and two pass deflections.

Horvath, Heidenreich, Tezca, Robinson, Parker, Ross and company have an interesting road test against a reviving conference foe. The Midshipmen will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls for a 4:00 kickoff at the famous Lincoln Financial Field. For those who can’t make it to the Linc, the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Max Malec is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email mvm7264@psu.edu.