Navy QB Blake Horvath gives shoutout to Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State after upsetting Oklahoma
Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was beyond impressive as he and the Midshipmen made a statement on Friday, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The victory included a 95-yard touchdown run against the Sooners, which is also the longest rushing play in the history of Navy football.
Horvath, a Columbus, Ohio, native, referenced Ezekiel Elliott’s 85-yard run to clinch a National Championship victory over Alabama at the end of the 2014-15 season during his postgame interview.
“I was an Ohio State fan when Ezekiel Elliott went 85 yards through the heart of the south, 95 yards sounds nice too,” he said postgame.
“I was an Ohio State fan when Ezekiel Elliott went 85 yards through the heart of the south, 95 yards sounds nice too”
The Columbus kid leads Navy to a bowl win!
Hilliard Darby’s Blake Horvath compares the longest run in Navy history and compared it a Buckeye moment growing up: pic.twitter.com/KFITx84D0z
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) December 27, 2024
Here’s a replay of that run:
BLAKE HORVATH TAKES IT 95 YARDS TO THE HOUSE TO TIE IT UP 🔥
The longest play from scrimmage in Navy history! #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/tybEhj5R9f
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 27, 2024
Horvath showed off his wheels during the game, carrying the ball 18 times for some 155 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry with 2 touchdowns. The stat line impressive regardless of how you look at it, but having a high rushing total for a quarterback is not exactly atypical considering the type of offense that Navy runs.
Horvath did what he needed to through the air, which understandably isn’t a ton by the numbers, completing 7 of his 12 passing attempts for 92 yards.
It will be interesting to see what things look like next year for Navy, which had some impressive wins in 2024 despite entering several games as perhaps an overlooked underdog.