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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) football team after their thrilling win against the Air Force on Saturday.
This season, the Midshipmen aimed to retain the prestigious Commander-in-Chief trophy (CIC), awarded annually to the winner of the college football series among the three military academies: USNA, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Having possession of the trophy, the Midshipmen faced off against the Air Force, ultimately triumphing with a score of 34-31.
According to CBS Sports, despite both teams employing run-heavy option offenses, they combined for an impressive 977 yards in a game characterized by explosive plays. Navy’s Heidenreich was a standout performer, setting a new single-game receiving record with 243 yards, surpassing the previous record of 179 yards set in 1967. Heidenreich also became the academy’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 14.
Quarterback Blake Horvath also had a remarkable performance, completing 20 of 26 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns, placing him fifth in Navy’s history for single-game passing yards.
Navy head coach Brian Newberry praised both players, stating, “They’re playmakers. You gotta get the ball to your playmakers, and they did a phenomenal job today.”
During the game, Secretary Hegseth was present in Annapolis and received enthusiastic cheers from the Midshipmen as he joined them in the stands.
After the game, Hegseth participated in Navy’s tradition of doing push-ups for each scoring drive, contributing to a Guinness World Record with 3,068 participants doing push-ups simultaneously for one minute.
Following the victory, Hegseth visited the locker room, where the atmosphere was electric. He expressed his pride in the team, stating, “You know what? Nothing else matters. You got it done. You got it done.” He emphasized the importance of resilience, leadership, and teamwork in both sports and military service.
“There’s going to be tough days… and what you do in those moments is what’s going to be the difference between life and death for the men, for the Americans, for the sailors, for the Seals, for the Marines that you lead in the future,” he added.
Hegseth concluded with a heartfelt message of support, saying, “From President Trump to all of you, we have your back. Stick to it. Fight like hell. Do what you did in the field today, and America will never, ever go wrong.” He encouraged the Midshipmen, saying, “Gentlemen, men, warriors, go Navy.”
Watch the postgame locker room speech here:
. @SecWar @PeteHegseth delivered a motivational speech after Navy’s 34-31 victory over Air Force pic.twitter.com/CGfS14agKC
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— Tami Radabaugh (@TRadabaughDOW) October 4, 2025
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