Week 6: Eli Heidenreich and Blake Horvath, Navy

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Navy quarterback Blake Horvath and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich have been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Players of the Week after their record-setting performances led the undefeated Midshipmen to a 34-31 win over visiting Air Force this past Saturday in Annapolis.

photos courtesy navy athletics

Horvath, who was the Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Year last season, enjoyed one of the best days ever by a Navy quarterback. He completed 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 339 yards and three touchdowns, tying his career high. He also rushed 17 times for 130 yards and another score. Horvath’s 469 yards of total offense were a school record.

“Special is the perfect word for him,” Heidenreich said. “Ever since he stepped on the field for us, he’s been special. He’s a guy who has a different level of poise and I think that’s the biggest thing. This game was close, but with him it didn’t really feel that way.”

“I’m glad he’s on our side,” Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. “He never flinches. He never panics. He never presses. He’s calm, cool and collected and just a special talent. He’s a winner and that permeates the rest of our team.”

Heidenreich had a career-high eight catches for a school-record 243 yards and three touchdowns. It was after one of those touchdowns that Heidenreich leaped atop the fence surrounding the field at the stadium’s north end zone so that his father and friends could congratulate him.

“It was a great day,” Heidenreich said. “It felt like playing catch with Blake out there and doing what we’ve been doing all summer leading up to the season. We’ve put a lot of time in, all the guys on offense have. We really have invested a lot and it’s nice to see it come to fruition.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

  • Christopher Newport QB Connor Barry (Madison) completed 27 of 44 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Captains beat Rowan, 49-41 in double overtime.

  • Shepherd WR Kordell Batten (St. Charles) caught eight passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams beat Millersville, 38-23.

  • Buffalo S Miles Greer (South County) made 15 tackles as the Bulls beat Eastern Michigan, 31-30 in overtime.

  • West Liberty QB Antevious Jackson (Woodbridge) completed 17 of 24 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns – including a 40-yard touchdown pass as time expired -- and rushed 17 times for 87 yards and another score as the Hilltoppers beat West Virginia State, 47-41.

  • Virginia DE Mitchell Melton (Good Counsel) made five tackles with two sacks and broke up a pass as the Cavaliers beat Louisville, 30-27 in overtime.

  • Monmouth WR TJ Speight (Meade) caught seven passes for 145 yards and one touchdown as the Hawks beat Delaware State, 49-38.

  • Georgetown QB Dez Thomas II completed 16 of 30 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 70 yards and one touchdown, and threw the game-winning 49-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Kibble on the final play of the game as the Hoyas beat Morgan State, 27-24.

  • Duke DE Wesley Williams (Battlefield) made a career-high nine tackles with 3 ½ tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks as the Blue Devils beat Cal, 45-21..