Week 10 delivered a high-stakes American Athletic Conference (AAC) clash in Denton, where an undefeated Navy squad traveled to face a red-hot North Texas team eyeing a third straight 50-point performance. With national rankings, playoff whispers, and conference supremacy on the line, the Midshipmen walked into Apogee Stadium knowing they would need a clean offensive effort to keep pace with one of the nation’s most explosive scoring attacks. Instead, timely interceptions and stalled drives halted Navy’s momentum at critical moments, opening the door for the Mean Green to hand the Mids their first loss of the season in a hard-fought November showdown.
Related: Navy edges Air Force, Army earns first conference win
In Colorado Springs, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy rivalry returned to center stage as Army and Air Force squared off in a showdown loaded with emotion and postseason implications. Both service academies entered this rivalry game hungry to reset their seasons; the Black Knights looked to climb back to .500 and keep bowl hopes alive, while the Falcons hoped to build on momentum after snapping a losing skid the week prior. True to the rivalry’s reputation, the contest turned into a physical, grind-it-out battle defined by field position, quarterback grit, and late-game drama, culminating in a walk-off finish that kept the Black Knights’ postseason aspirations intact.
Navy’s First 2025 Battle Lost in North Texas
When Blake Horvath runs the ball, he is at his best. Unfortunately for the Midshipmen, staring down a locked-in, well-prepared North Texas defense, the senior signal-caller and the Navy offense struggled to establish a rhythm on the ground early. And while Horvath found brief momentum just after halftime, the second half ultimately belonged to the Mean Green defense, which smothered Navy’s attack and took the game in part thanks to two critical interceptions.
Horvath was Navy’s leading rusher in the game, compiling 112 yards and a rushing touchdown while adding 80 yards through the air. Slotback Brandon Chatman provided the other Navy touchdown, carrying the ball six times for 67 yards. Senior captain Alex Tecza added 59 rushing yards, and slotback Eli Heidenreich chipped in 57 yards as Navy tried to counter North Texas’ offensive explosiveness with its own ground attack.
Running back Caleb Hawkins was an absolute force for the Mean Green offense, powering North Texas from start to finish. The true freshman dominated on the ground, rushing for a season-high 197 yards on 33 carries, finding the end zone four times. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker efficiently managed the attack, completing 19 of 24 passes for 234 yards, while wide receiver Cameron Dorner led the receiving corps with three catches for 78 yards.
In the first quarter, the Mean Green jumped out to a 14-0 lead, pounding the Mids’ defense on the ground. Navy lost the toss and kicked off to North Texas to start the ballgame. The Mean Green opened the contest with Hawkins’ 13-yard run for a first down. Later on the drive, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound running back recorded his first of four rushing touchdowns in the game, a seven-yard run that put North Texas up 7-0 at the 11:57 mark.
On the Mids’ first possession, they were forced to punt after an incomplete pass on 3rd & 21 in their own territory. The lethal combo of Mestemaker and Hawkins led the Mean Green down the field again. Hawkins’ three-yard rushing touchdown at 3:32 put North Texas up 14-0 in the first quarter.
On Navy’s next possession, Horvath had a beautiful 37-yard run. Unfortunately for the Midshipmen, on their next play, Horvath was sacked for a four-yard loss at the 2:51 mark of the first. This was just the second time the quarterback had been sacked all season. Things only got worse on this possession when Horvath fumbled on 2nd & 6 at the North Texas 24-yard line. The ball was recovered by cornerback Kollin Lewis, a part of one of college football’s top turnover defenses.
The Mean Green went three-and-out on their next possession, punting away the ball to the Mids. Fighting to get on the scoreboard before the half, Navy’s explosive redzone offense was stopped on 3rd & 6 at the North Texas 10, setting up a field goal attempt. The Midshipmen finally ended their scoring drought at 7:14 in the second quarter with Nathan Kirkwood’s 26-yard field goal. North Texas led 14-3.
A costly, failed onside kickoff by Navy gave North Texas excellent field possession to set up another scoring drive. Running back Hawkins bulldozed through a series of Navy defenders for his third touchdown of the ballgame. This 14-yard rushing touchdown put the Mean Green up 21-3.
Navy answered on its next possession. Senior slotback Chatman ran for a 31-yard touchdown at 1:59 of the second. With the extra point, this brought the score to 21-10 in favor of the home side. Navy tightened its coverage in the closing minute of the first half, preventing a touchdown and holding the Mean Green to a field goal. North Texas headed into the locker room up 24-10 on the Mids.
The Midshipmen carried the momentum in the early minutes of the third quarter, striking first in the second half on a Horvath 13-yard rushing touchdown at 9:48. North Texas still led by one score, 24-17. Navy’s defense shut down North Texas on its next possession, forcing the Mean Green to punt.
North Texas flipped the momentum at the 4:59 mark of the third quarter with safety Quinton Hammond’s interception. This huge defensive play ignited the Mean Green sideline. Hammond celebrated in a fitting Denton fashion by smashing two cans of water together in a nod to former North Texas defensive standout turned professional wrestler, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
On the ensuing possession, Hawkins punched right down the middle and into the endzone with 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter. This six-yard rushing touchdown tied his career high, a record set earlier this season against Army. North Texas led 31-17.
Navy couldn’t put together a scoring drive on its next possession. Around 10:22 of the fourth, on 4th & 2 at the Mean Green nine-yard line, head coach Brian Newberry opted to go for it. The North Texas defense stuffed the Mids’ offense, forcing a turnover on downs. North Texas punted on its next possession. Navy took over, looking to put together a hasty scoring drive. On 1st & 10 in Mean Green territory, Horvath’s pass was picked off again by Hammond at 4:16. This turnover secured the win for North Texas.
The Mean Green used nine plays to run out the clock, lining up in the victory formation to secure a huge 31-17 conference victory over Navy. Now, the top three teams in the AAC (Navy, Memphis, and North Texas) have one loss. The Midshipmen’s record stands at 7-1 overall (5-1 AAC) with North Texas improving to 8-1 (4-1 AAC).
Navy Sails into South Bend for Notre Dame Matchup
Navy returns to action this Saturday, Nov. 8, when it travels to South Bend for a highly anticipated and storied matchup against nationally ranked Notre Dame. One of the most-played rivalries in college football, the two teams first met on Oct. 15, 1927. Since then, they have played 97 times, with the most recent game coming on October 26, 2024, a 51-14 Fighting Irish win. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 81-13-1. This year’s matchup, scheduled for a 7:30 PM ET kickoff, will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
Quarterback C.J. Carr is the man leading nationally ranked Notre Dame’s offense. The true freshman gunslinger has completed 139 of 209 passes for 2,057 yards and 16 touchdowns. Largely known for his passing abilities, the Michigan-native has also added 21 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground to his season totals. Carr has been supported on the ground by a strong rushing game led by running back Jeremiyah Love. The 6-foot, 214-pound junior has 894 yards and 11 touchdowns on 141 carries this season. Love has also caught 23 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jordan Faison currently leads the Fighting Irish in receiving yards with 39 catches for 518 yards and two touchdowns.
This non-conference rivalry matchup against Notre Dame will test the Midshipmen’s resolve. Coming off a difficult loss to North Texas, Navy must regroup and recapture the explosive efficiency that defined much of its season, particularly on the ground. Horvath and company cannot afford a repeat of last week’s early struggles establishing the run; any hesitation against a disciplined Fighting Irish defense in hostile territory could lead to a long night for the Mids.
Army Walks Off Air Force in Service Academy Showdown
Army once again leaned on quarterback Cale Hellums to lead its offense en route to a 20-17 victory over Air Force. The junior quarterback rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown. He was five for nine through the air with 102 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Noah Short had 52 yards on three catches with one touchdown. Sophomore running back Briggs Bartosh added 74 rushing yards.
Air Force racked up 335 total yards of offense against the Black Knights. The primary offensive contributor, quarterback Liam Szarka, was 13 of 17 passing for 161 yards. On the ground, he had 91 yards, securing the Falcons’ two touchdowns. Wide receiver Jonah Dawson led the team with four receptions for 67 yards. The Army defense pressured Szarka throughout the game, setting him up for three costly mistakes at critical moments: two interceptions and one fumble.
In the opening three possessions of the game, Army punted twice, with Air Force punting once. The scoring finally started with 2:25 left in the first quarter, when Falcons kicker Reagan Tubbs hit a 52-yard field goal to put his team up 3-0. The Black Knights responded with a four-play scoring drive that culminated in Hellums’ 40-yard touchdown pass to Short. Army led 7-3 with five seconds left in the first quarter.
The Falcons and Black Knights exchanged punts on the first two plays of the second quarter. At 2nd & 9 on their own 14-yard line, Szarka was picked off by senior safety Casey Larkin. The Black Knights offense did not waste the defensive gift; Army picked up three more points on a Dawson Jones’ 44-yard field goal at the 1:47 mark of the second.
Air Force got in field goal range with mere seconds left in the second quarter, but Tubbs’ 40-yard kick missed its mark. Army took a knee to run the clock out in the half. The Black Knights led the Falcons 10-3 at halftime.
Air Force moved the ball effectively down the field to open up the second half. In Army territory, Szarka was intercepted for the second time. This time, senior nickelback Gavin Shields picked off his throw. The Black Knights went three-and-out on their next possession, punting to the Falcons. This defensive stop set Air Force up for a much-needed scoring drive that evened up the game at 10 as time expired in the third quarter. Szarka scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown.
On their opening drive of the final quarter, Army put together a 13-play drive to score on Hellums’ 10-yard rushing touchdown. The Black Knights led 17-10 with seven minutes left in the game. At 1st & 10 on Army’s 11-yard line, Szarka was sacked by nickelback Cole Searight. Szarka fumbled the ball in the melee, with Black Knights’ defensive lineman Deshontez Gray recovering the ball at the 3:11 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Falcons’ defense kept their team in the game by shutting down Army’s offense on their next possession. The Black Knights turned the ball over on downs after failing to get a first down with their ground attack.
Air Force used three plays to tie the game up on Szarka’s two-yard touchdown run. With 1:26 left in the contest, the score stood at 17-17. Army got the ball back with a minute and change left in the game. Hellums’ monster 42-yard pass to wide receiver Brady Anderson with 25 seconds left in regulation helped set up the game-winning field goal. Jones’ game-deciding kick was good from 27 yards out as time expired. With this victory, Army is now 4-4 (2-3 AAC), while Air Force falls to 2-6 (1-4 MW).
Army Hosts Temple this Saturday
Army returns home to Michie Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 8th, for a noon ET conference game against Temple, streaming available on Fubo and YouTube TV. Temple is one of the more respectable teams in the AAC. Coming off a humbling 45-14 loss to East Carolina this past weekend, the Owls are 5-4 (3-2 AAC) entering their game against Army.
Redshirt senior signal-caller Evan Simon will lead the Temple offense into West Point. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback has put up good numbers this campaign through the air and on the ground. He is 143 for 229 passing with 1,690 yards and 21 touchdowns. Rushing, Simon has 181 yards and two touchdowns this season. Running back Jay Ducker has been a solid rushing and receiving option for first-year head coach K.C. Keeler; he has 683 yards and six touchdowns on the ground with two more touchdowns on 61 receiving yards. The Temple offense has had strong reception performances from wide receivers Colin Chase (two touchdowns, 264 yards) and JoJo Bermudez (four touchdowns, 405 yards). Junior tight end Peter Clarke has also been a key receiver with 24 receptions for 383 yards and four touchdowns.
To defeat Temple, Army will need to lean on the same formula that has powered their success this season: dominate the line of scrimmage with the rushing attack, control time of possession, and force turnovers on defense. The Owls’ defense has been inconsistent against the run this season. This past weekend, East Carolina scored four rushing touchdowns on Temple.
Air Force on the Road Against San Jose State
This Saturday, Air Force travels to Spartan Stadium to face Mountain West Conference (MW) opponent San Jose State, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 PM ET. Coming off a narrow 45-38 win over Hawaii, the Spartans enter the game with a 3-5 (2-2 MW) record, sitting in the lower half of the conference with the Falcons.
Led by former longtime Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo, San Jose State boasts an efficient, experienced offense guided by redshirt senior quarterback Walker Eget, a 2025 Athlon Sports Preseason All-MW Second-Team selection. A poised pocket passer, the Santa Clarita, California-native has completed 190 of 320 attempts for 2,607 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. His top target has been redshirt sophomore Danny Scudero, who has emerged as one of the most productive receivers in the nation. Scudero has hauled in 63 receptions for 1,085 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning AP Midseason All-America Second-Team honors. At 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, he has become a big-play threat and enters the weekend among the national leaders in receiving yards.
One of Air Force’s biggest defensive vulnerabilities continues to be defending against the pass. The Falcons rank near the bottom of all Division I college football programs in scoring defense, a deficiency that often puts added pressure on their offense to keep games competitive. This concern aligns directly with San Jose State’s strength, a high-powered aerial attack, and could be a decisive factor in Saturday’s matchup.
The Road Ahead
The service academies move into a pivotal Week 11 stretch with bowl positioning, rivalry momentum, and conference stakes all on the line. Navy heads to South Bend for a primetime showdown under the lights against nationally ranked Notre Dame, looking to bounce back from its first loss and prove its early-season dominance was no fluke. Army returns to West Point for a critical AAC matchup against Temple as the Black Knights look to climb back above .500 and keep postseason hopes alive. Air Force travels to San Jose State seeking to regroup after a narrow defeat and build late-season momentum as it continues to battle through a grueling conference slate.
