When Navy football teammates Eli Heidenreich '26 and Alex Tecza '26 line up on game day, there's an unmistakable rhythm to their chemistry, an unspoken connection honed over a lifetime of shared experiences. Both are dynamic playmakers in Navy's new-look offense, but their story runs much deeper than X's and O's. Long before they wore the same uniform, they were rivals on the youth football fields of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, two of the best kids in the neighborhood, rarely on the same team, always facing off.
"Early on, we were always playing against each other," Tecza recalls, smiling. "We were like one and two picks every year in the community draft. So, we were never on the same team."
That early competition gave way to a close friendship in middle school, and by high school, the bond had solidified. "Our friendship really started to develop in eighth grade," Heidenreich says. "By freshman year, we were best friends."
Their connection deepened as teammates at Mt. Lebanon High School. Tecza starred as a traditional running back and safety, while Heidenreich shined as a versatile slot receiver and corner. They didn't compete for positions. Each carved out his own role but together, they were electric. By senior year, both had tallied exactly 29 touchdowns, an eerie symmetry neither takes for granted.
"There's no stat line that can say one of us was better," Heidenreich says with a grin. Tecza agrees: "We were both good at our own things. He's the better route runner. I'm better between the tackles. But we both did what the team needed."
Now, the two are suiting up together once again, this time under the bright lights of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Both chose the Naval Academy for similar reasons: a deep respect for service, a desire for top-tier academics, and a love for football's highest stage.
"When I visited, it just felt like home," says Heidenreich. "The Army-Navy rivalry, the leadership development, and the legacy. It all clicked." He also has family ties to the military, with a grandfather and uncle who served in the Navy.
Tecza had a tougher decision but ultimately found the right fit in Annapolis. "I wanted the full experience—big-time football, great academics, and the opportunity to serve," he says.
Heidenreich was the first to commit, and he never lets Tecza forget it. "I always joke he came here because I did," he laughs. Tecza shrugs it off. "He committed in July and I committed in September. But we both ended up in the right place."
On the field, their complimentary skill sets shine in offensive coordinator Drew Cronic's versatile system. They both get opportunities to run and receive the ball, making them a powerful dual threat which defenses struggle to cover.
Their efforts haven't gone unnoticed, as both were named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, given annually to the nation's top running back. For a service academy, having two names on that list is almost unheard of.
"It's pretty cool," says Heidenreich. "It says a lot about our offense and how we spread the ball around."
"We both bring different things," adds Tecza. "He's more of a downfield threat; I bring more to the blocking schemes. But we both contribute."
Off the field, they share even more than a backfield. Both are Cyber Operations majors—"kind of computer nerds," as Tecza puts it. Heidenreich built his own computer in high school and helped build one for Tecza. They're also both aiming to commission as Marine Corps officers. Heidenreich is drawn to ground intelligence or infantry, while Tecza is eyeing Marine Cyber.
Leadership comes naturally to both. Heidenreich served as a youngster mentor, guiding plebes through their first year. "It's one-on-one mentorship," he explains. "I loved being able to pass down what I learned." His biggest advice? "Focus on the now. Don't get overwhelmed by what's coming later."
Tecza, true to form, leads by example. He's his company's Honor Advisor, helping midshipmen navigate the Honor Code. He explains, "If someone gets in trouble, I am there to support them through the process."
Their friendship isn't all football and leadership roles, though. Ask them about each other, and you'll find quirky details that only lifelong friends would know.
"He's a great DJ," Heidenreich says of Tecza. "I'll walk in and he's just in his room by himself, mixing music. He's actually really into it."
As for Tecza's take? "He drinks the weirdest amount of milk. During the summer, we have all these empty cartons in our fridge. He just never finishes one. It's breakfast, lunch, dinner…always milk."
Heidenreich laughs. "It's true. Back home we had a milkman. Real glass bottles. I love it."
From rivals in Mt. Lebanon to best friends at Navy, Heidenreich and Tecza have grown together every step of the way. Their journey is one of shared ambition, quiet leadership, and unbreakable brotherhood. Whether they're carving up defenses or mentoring younger mids, they do it side by side, with respect, humility, and a bond that will likely last a lifetime.
As they prepare for their futures after Commissioning, one thing is certain: their friendship will endure - on the field, in the fleet, and far beyond Annapolis.
