The Navy Midshipmen cruised to a convincing victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats at the rain-drenched AutoZone Liberty Bowl, concluding their season with an impressive 11-2 record. The game, which witnessed the Midshipmen overpowering Cincinnati with a final score of 35-13, featured a tight first half before Navy pulled away with a potent mix of aerial and ground attacks.
According to Action News 5, Navy's quarterback Blake Horvath connected with Alex Tecza for a pivotal touchdown just before the halftime, shifting the momentum in Navy's favor. Horvath, who has been a major contributor to Navy's notable offensive prowess, also made significant plays throughout the second half, cementing the win with both passing and rushing touchdowns. Despite the inclement weather and the nation's No. 1 rushing defense pitted against them, Navy still managed to compile 241 yards on the ground.
The Bearcats, on the other hand, ended their season at a somewhat disappointing 7-6. As reported by University of Cincinnati's official athletics site, senior wide receiver Cyrus Allen tied the school's single-season record with his 13th touchdown reception. The Cincinnati squad, which had been dealing with the loss of key players to opt-outs ahead of the game, struggled to find consistency on offense, alternating quarterbacks Brady Lichtenberg and Samaj Jones in the challenging conditions. Head coach Scott Satterfield expressed both disappointment and pride in the team's effort, stating, "I'm proud of the guys that were here in the last four weeks on campus that stuck it out with us right here at the end to go compete in this bowl game... Some of these guys have been in this program for a long time, and have such pride about our program, in our school, and every single day, show up and work their butts off."
Further underscoring the Navy's dominance was a statement obtained by The Commercial Appeal, which highlighted the Midshipmen's two-year run and the leadership of their star quarterback, Blake Horvath. The Midshipmen's defense also played a crucial role, with the Cincinnati Bearcats' offense faltering in the absence of starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had entered the transfer portal prior to the game. Navy capitalized on several Cincinnati mistakes, culminating in a Coleman Cauley interception return for a touchdown that put the game firmly out of reach for the Bearcats.
