mt. lebanon graduate eli heidenreich recovers key fumble, catches game-winning touchdown pass to help navy win commander-in-chief's trophy

A Horvath-to-Heidenreich classic!#RollGoats | #BeatArmy | @CBSSportsCFB pic.twitter.com/bVkpW8V20b

— Navy Football (@NavyFB) December 13, 2025

Mt. Lebanon graduate Eli Heidenreich helped the Navy football team avert a near disaster by falling on a fumble late in the fourth quarter on a failed tush push. Two plays later, Heidenreich continued to cement his legacy as Navy's greatest pass catcher. On fourth-and-goal, Heidenreich caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Blake Horvath to help the Midshipmen beat Navy, 17-16, Saturday evening in Baltimore.

Heidenreich caught six passes for 72 yards, setting Navy's all-time record for receiving yards in a season. Heidenreich now has 877 receiving yards this season, which broke Rob Taylor's record of 818 yards, which had stood since 1967. 

Heidenreich's fumble recovery came during a tense stretch for Navy. The Midshipmen's offense struggled with turnovers throughout the contest. Navy had the ball second-and-goal when the Midshipmen attempted a tush push for Horvath. Horvath had the ball punched out of his hands and an Army defender nearly scooped the ball up.

Alec Tecza, another Mt. Lebanon graduate, batted the ball away from him before Heidenreich could fall on it. Tecza carried the ball nine times for 50 yards.

The win helped Navy win the Commander-in-Chief's trophy for the 18th time and the second consecutive season.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.