For the first time since the end of the 2019 season, No. 25 Navy is back in the AP rankings, and the player most responsible for the rise of the Midshipmen after four straight losing seasons is quarterback Blake Horvath.
When Navy (5-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) hosts Charlotte (3-3, 2-0) in its homecoming on Saturday, all eyes will be on Horvath, a typical Midshipmen quarterback in that he leads the team in rushing but also an atypical one considering his efficient passing numbers.
While Horvath doesn’t throw often, completing 39 of 59 passes for 771 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception, his dual-threat effectiveness has catapulted him to the top mark in the BCS in ESPN’s total quarterback rating (QBR) at 92.8.
“They throw it much better than a normal option team throws the football,” Charlotte coach Biff Poggi said. “The quarterback is a star.”
Horvath’s star turn came last month in a 56-44 upset of AAC preseason favorite Memphis as he rushed for 211 yards and four touchdowns and completed 9 of 12 passes for 192 yards and two more scores.
“Memphis has a lot of athletes on the defensive side,” Poggi said, “and he out-ran a bunch of guys.”
In Navy’s most recent win, 34-7 at Air Force on Oct. 5, Horvath carried 19 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw for 134 yards as the Midshipmen ended a four-season losing streak against the Falcons.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a Navy squad that went 5-7 last year and was picked to finish 11th in the 14-team AAC in the preseason. With a win Saturday, the Midshipmen would be off to a 6-0 start for the first time since 1979.
“The one thing I’ve been most impressed with, with our football team, is just their ability to keep the blinders on and keep working,” Navy’s second-year coach Brian Newberry said. “Nothing’s changed from the first week to now.”
Charlotte has also exceeded expectations after being slotted to finish 13th in the AAC. The 49ers have won three of their past four, showing improvement under Poggi, who also is in his second year.
“You look across the board, they’re a big, long, athletic, physical football team,” Newberry said of the 49ers.
In its last game, a 55-24 romp over East Carolina on Oct. 5, Charlotte rolled up 311 rushing yards, its highest total in a game since 2019.
Hahsaun Wilson ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns, while Deshawn Purdie threw for 206 yards in his second career start.
Because of injuries, true freshman Purdie is one of three quarterbacks who have started games for the 49ers this year.
He came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes in the second half of a 21-20 come-from-behind win at Rice to earn the start against East Carolina.
With Navy and Charlotte coming off bye weeks, both teams enter in good health. The 49ers will regain the services of quarterback Max Brown, who started their opening game.
“Non-coach speak, it truly will be a game-time decision,” Poggi said about who would get the start. “We will have both (Brown and Purdie) ready to go.”
