Navy Midshipmen Look to Stay Unbeaten Against Rice Owls

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy Midshipmen will host the Rice Owls Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. This American Athletic Conference match comes as Navy attempts to maintain its perfect start with a record of 3-0.

Under head coach Brian Newberry, the Midshipmen have dominated on the ground, leading the nation with an average of 375.3 rushing yards per game. This impressive performance compares favorably to their record-setting season in 2019.

Quarterback Blake Horvath has emerged as a key player, rushing for 231 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Additionally, he has completed 18 of 25 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. His career passer rating of 170.3 is the highest in Service Academy history, placing him among notable college quarterbacks.

Senior running back Alex Tecza has also contributed significantly, with 272 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Together, they form a formidable backfield that has created a strong offensive strategy for Navy.

On the other hand, Rice enters the game with a 3-1 record under new head coach Scott Abell. The Owls are enjoying their best start since 2001, thanks to the efforts of running back Quinton Jackson, who has tallied 293 rushing yards so far this season.

Quarterback Chase Jenkins‘ passing game has been limited, averaging just 67 yards per game. However, Rice’s defense has made some crucial plays, recording 14 sacks and holding opponents to a 50 percent completion rate.

This matchup marks the 14th meeting between the teams, with Rice holding a slight edge at 7-6 in the all-time series. Although Navy has won four of the last five encounters, Rice managed to break a losing streak in their last matchup, winning 24-10.

Navy strives for a victory on their home turf, where they have not lost a game if leading after three quarters for 74 consecutive games. For Navy, success will revolve around maintaining their rushing strategy, while Rice will need to find ways to control the ground game to stand a chance.

The anticipation builds as both teams prepare to face off in what promises to be an exciting and competitive game.