**Navy Defeats No. 25 South Florida 41-38 Behind Heidenreich’s Record-Breaking Performance**
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Eli Heidenreich caught five passes for 146 yards and became Navy’s all-time receiving yards leader, while quarterback Braxton Woodson ran for 103 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns in relief of Blake Horvath as the Midshipmen stunned No. 25 South Florida 41-38 on Saturday.
Alex Tecza carried 12 times for 126 yards, including an early 76-yard touchdown run, and also caught Horvath’s lone touchdown pass. Navy (8-2, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) secured a half-game lead in the conference with the win.
Heidenreich now has 1,794 career receiving yards, surpassing Rob Thompson’s previous record of 1,781 yards set from 1965 to 1967.
South Florida’s Byrum Brown threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 136 yards and two additional scores. Despite scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls (7-3, 4-2) suffered their second consecutive road loss. The defeat also hinders their chances of reaching the conference championship game.
Heidenreich’s remarkable 82-yard catch from Horvath early in the game set up Brandon Chatman’s 4-yard touchdown run, putting Navy ahead 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. Later, his 32-yard catch from Woodson sparked an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive culminating in Woodson’s 20-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 34-24.
On Navy’s next possession, Woodson broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run, marking the Midshipmen’s third play of 60 or more yards, to extend their lead to 41-30.
**The Takeaway**
After this big home win, the Bulls may fall out of the AP Top 25, reversing their recent climb into the rankings for the fifth time this season.
**Up Next**
– South Florida travels to UAB next Saturday.
– Navy will visit Memphis on November 27.
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AP College Football: and
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/college-sports-game-stories/10190527/heidenreich-becomes-navys-all-time-receiving-yards-leader-as-midshipmen-beat-no-25-south-florida.html
