The Midshipmen Down the Owls 32 – 31 In the Last Minute
PHILADELPHIA, PA 10/11/2025
For most of the game, the Temple Owls played eye-to-eye, matched score for score, play for play against the undefeated Navy Midshipmen. Temple held the lead at 31 – 24 with 1:16 on the clock. But it was not meant to be as Navy quarterback Blake Horvath scampered up the middle for a 51-yard touchdown with 1:16 remaining, then completed a pass to Alex Tezca for a successful two-point conversion allowing his team to escape with a 32 – 31 win in front of 26,149 at the Linc. The opportunity was there, but the upset bid got away.
“So a lot of positives, a lot of positives,” said Temple Coach K.C. Keeler. “I think it’s a game that we walked off that field and feel we gave away one at the end.”
Second Half Dynamics
The second half became and exciting back and forth. The Midshipmen scored three touchdowns and a field goal on their possessions. The Owls had two touchdowns, but one punt.
The Game came down to the fourth quarter. Going into the last 15 minutes the Owls held a 24 – 21 lead. Navy got a field goal, a 48-yarder, to even the score with 6:34 remaining. As happened for most of the game the Owls would answer with an 11-play, 75-yard drive taking 5:18. Owls running back Jay Ducker scored on a one-yard plunge set up by a 22-yard catch by Kajiya Hallawayne to set the ball at the one. Temple considered trying to run the clock down (Navy had three timeouts), but went for the leading score on the next play.
“We’re not great where we line up and knock you off the ball for a yard,” Keeler said. “There is no guarantee you’re going to get it in. So you put the ball in the endzone. We were uncomfortable taking a knee two times taking away a couple if timeouts. That was the decision.”
Navy took over with 1:16 remaining. On fourth-and-one at the Midshipmen 49 yard line, Horvath found pathway up the middle and outraced the Owls defense for the touchdown. What would Navy do? Coach Brian Newberry went for the win. Horvath rewarded is confidence completing the conversion pass to Tecza for the lead.
“They executed, we didn’t. It’s as simple as that,” said Temple defensive tackle Allan Haye.
What the Numbers Say
Horvath was the game leading rusher gaining 155 yards on the ground on 19 attempts and 2 scores. He completed 6 passes for 141 yards highlighted by a 50-yard catch and run by Cody Howard to open the scoring. The senior signal caller accounted for 296 yards of total offense. Eli Heidenreich caught 3 passes for 72 yards. He also added 34 rushing yards.
Even Simon completed 25 of 36 passes for 345 yards, a season-high, and a touchdown, a 26-yard scoring strike to Jojo Burmedez that gave the Cherry and White a 24 – 14 edge with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. Hallawayne was the intended receiver 11 times hauling in 9 for 146 yards a new career-high in catches and yards. Ducker ran for 97 yards and crossed the goal line twice.
Temple outgained Navy by a 518 – 384 margin.
Up Next
Navy remains undefeated in 6 games (3 – 0 in conference), and hosts Florida Atlantic next week.
Temple (3 – 3, 1 – 1) travels to Charlotte for their next game, the start of a two-game road swing. The Owls go in disappointed with the loss, but see a brighter future on the horizon.
“This one is going to hurt for a little bit,” said Temple quarterback Evan Simon. “We got 24 hours and it might take 48 to put this one to bed, and just bring it to Charlotte. I’m really disappointed but encouraged with this football team. Like someone said we’re building some chemistry around here.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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