Navy Football: Eli Hedenreich Named Player of the Week

What just happened? Navy football player Eli Heidenreich was named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week on December 16,2025,after a pivotal performance against Army.

WASHINGTON (December 16, 2025) – Navy wide receiver Eli Heidenreich has been recognized as the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week, a testament to his game-changing contributions in the Midshipmen’s victory over Army and retention of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

A Crucial Recovery and Game-Winning Catch

Heidenreich’s resilience and clutch performance were key to Navy’s 17-16 win.

The defining moments unfolded in the fourth quarter. With Navy driving toward the go-ahead touchdown, quarterback Blake Horvath fumbled on the 1-yard line. It was Heidenreich who instinctively recovered the loose ball, albeit for a seven-yard loss. “That’s probably the last thing you want to see on the one-yard line, turning around and seeing the ball bouncing behind you,” Heidenreich explained. “I was blocking down and I thought he had pushed in. In the periphery of my eye I saw it going behind me. I think every football player’s natural instinct, that nothing else matters, you have to get on that ball. That’s what happened.”

One play later, facing fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Horvath connected with Heidenreich for the game-winning touchdown, securing a hard-fought 17-16 victory for Navy. The play’s design offered Horvath a choice of targets. “It was funny. In the huddle, the play we ran has two seams,” Heidenreich recounted. “He (Blake) has the option to pick the seam on either side. I was like, ‘are you coming to me?’ He gave me the funniest facial expression. He was like, ‘Dude, come on; obviously.’ “

Did you know? – The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the round-robin competition between the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Military Academy. Navy has won the trophy outright 10 times.

Record-Breaking Performance

Heidenreich’s performance extended beyond those critical plays.He was also named the Duke Cannon Offensive Player of the Game, finishing with six receptions for 72 yards and five rushes for 28 yards. Notably, a 21-yard catch late in the second quarter on third-and-16 established a new navy record for receiving yards in a single season. Heidenreich now boasts 46 catches for a total of 877 yards this season.

Pro tip – Recovering a fumble, even for a loss, is often more valuable than the yardage lost. It maintains possession and provides another offensive opportunity.

• Eli Heidenreich was named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week.
• Heidenreich recovered a fumble on the 1-yard lin