ANNAPOLIS, Md-Navy senior snipe Eli Heidenreich has been named the NAAA Athlete of the Week for his performance in #22 / #25 Navy's 17-16 win over Army to secure the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and the Star. Navy improved to 10-2 on the year, marking the first time in school history the Mids have won 10 or more games in back-to-back years.
Heidenreich caught six passes for 72 yards, including the game-winning touchdown on Saturday. His eight-yard touchdown reception from Blake Horvath came on fourth-and-goal with 6:32 remaining and the Mids trailing 16-10.
On the play before the touchdown, Heidenreich recovered Horvath's fumble after senior fullback Alex Tecza kept the play alive by knocking the ball out of the hands of an Army defender.
Heidenreich is Navy's all-time leader in career touchdown catches (15), career receiving yards (1,930) and single-season receiving yards (877). His six touchdown catches last year tied the single-season record and he enters the Liberty Bowl with a chance to break that record needing two receiving touchdowns.
Navy will travel to Memphis to take on Cincinnati (7-5) in the 67th playing of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2 at 4:30 PM (ET), 3:30 PM in Memphis. The game will be televised live by CBS and broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio and the Navy Radio Network.
With a win, the Mids would tie the school record for wins with the 2015 and 2019 squads.
