Navy outperforms Army with late landing as Trump’s Baltimore attendance sparks protests
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For the second consecutive year, Navy Midshipmen have earned the Commander in Chief Trophy.
The Midshipmen earned a gutsy 17-16 victory over Army in one of the greatest rivalries in sports.
Navy got off to a scorching start, as they scored a touchdown on their first drive, with Blake Horvath rushing for 45 of the 75 yards on the drive and rushing for the score. He also had an 11-yard pass.
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President Donald Trump greets players after the coin toss and before the start of the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Army, however, immediately responded with an identical drive, running 13 plays for 75 yards; this one ended with Cale Hellums hitting one.
Navy’s offense was stagnant for a long time afterward, as its next three drives ended in a punt, a fumble, and an interception. Meanwhile, the Black Knights were able to hit three more field goals to take the lead, 16-7. Late in the third, the Midshipmen finally added more points to the scoreboard with a field goal that reduced their deficit to three.
Early in the fourth, the Navy forced an Army interception. Navy had the ball at the goal line, but fumbled on a quarterback sneak, losing seven yards. However, Horvath hit Eli Heidenrich in the end zone and the resulting kick gave the Midshipmen their first lead since the first drive of the game.
Navy quickly forced a three-pointer and got the ball back with less than five minutes left. Navy lost a fumble while attempting a first down that would have iced the game, but the play was reviewed and the call was reversed. Thus, Navy had fourth-and-1 and kept the offense on the field. They got the first down that iced the game.
U.S. President Donald Trump tosses a coin before the college football game between the U.S. Army and Navy in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/News via Getty Images)
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With the victory, the Navy earned the Commander in Chief trophy by also defeating the Air Force earlier in the year.
The game was the usual old school style of football as there were only 24 passing attempts compared to 86 rushing attempts.
President Donald Trump attended the game for the seventh time, and the second time in as many years since he was re-elected. Trump participated in the coin toss, but not before protesters held obscene signs opposing Trump on the street leading to the stadium.
Protests were expected for the game in the blue city, as Trump suggested sending the National Guard to Baltimore to help address rampant crime in the city. Baltimore consistently ranks among American cities with high crime rates, often appearing in the top five for violent crime, especially homicides and robberies.
United States President Donald Trump (2nd-left) walks onto the field for the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen December 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. The teams compete for the Commander in Chief’s Trophy, with President Trump attending the rivalry for the second year in a row. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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The anti-Trump protests also come on the same day that officials said two U.S. Army soldiers and an American interpreter were killed in an ambush in Syria.
News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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