When asked to quantify the value of Navy's double-edged sword that complements quarterback Blake Horvath so consistently, third-year head coach Brian Newberry did not hold back.
 
Newberry wondered if versatile senior backfield weapons Alex Tecza and Eli Heidenreich, based on the various ways they keep producing for a prolific Navy offense, are appreciated as much on the outside as they are in the Mids' locker room.
 
In Newberry's mind, based on their body of work, senior running back Alex Tecza and senior snipe Eli Heidenreich could be as good of a one-two offensive punch as there is in the tough American Conference.
 
As he looked back at the Mids' combined 14-3 record dating to the start of the 2024 season, Newberry tipped his hat to the two playmakers, who together arrived at the Naval Academy in the summer of 2022, directly from Mount Lebanon High School, just south of the Pittsburgh city limits.
 
They finished their high school careers by leading the senior-heavy Blue Devils to a historic 15-0 season, capping Mt. Lebanon's first Pennsylvania 6A state championship and its first Western Pa. Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Championship.
 
"I don't think [Tecza and Heidenreich] get enough credit for where we're at as a program. Without those two, we would not be here. Period," said Newberry, who led the Mids to last year's 10-3 turnaround season, following four losing years.
 
With Navy's 21-13 win over visiting Rice on Saturday – in part featuring Tecza cutting, sprinting, breaking tackles in the rain while gaining 105 rushing yards on only 11 carries – the Mids are off to back-to-back, 4-0 starts for the first since 1978-79.
 
"I didn't know how long [the turnaround] would take or what it would look like exactly. We hit a home run by hiring [offensive coordinator] Drew Cronic [in December 2023]. The development of Horvath obviously accelerates your timeline," Newberry added. "Alex and Eli are an instrumental part of our success on offense."
 
"Tecza is more outspoken. Eli  is a little quieter but they both put their nose down and go to work every day. Those guys are kind of goofy and unassuming, with a unique sense of humor. As much as they relish having the ball in their hands, both are very unselfish. You could put together a highlight reel of them just blocking. They are workhorses and professionals, the way they handle their business. They sum up what we are all about and what we look for in recruiting," continued Newberry.
 
Tecza, who led Navy in rushing as a sophomore – in his first start at Memphis, he ran for 163 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run (both career highs) – leads the Mids in 2025 with 376 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
 
Cronic has expanded Tecza's offensive role by getting him involved in the passing and perimeter games. Tecza, who motions out of the backfield at times and lines up as slot receiver, is averaging 12.4 yards per catch thus far. He averaged 19.1 yards on 12 catches last year.
 
Heidenreich's multifaceted tools also make the Mids (currently averaging 38 points per game) harder to defend. Known as an obsessively sharp route runner with excellent hands and breakaway speed, Heidenreich was a star receiver and running back at Mt. Lebanon, as well as the team captain as a senior.
 
His 12 receptions and 170 receiving yards lead the Mids. Heidenreich is also averaging 7.7 yards on 30 rushes, with three touchdowns. His career 11 touchdown catches rank third in school history. He is two touchdown receptions short of tying the school record of 13, shared by Rob Taylor (1965-67) and Phil McConkey (1975-78).
 
"Those two names [Tecza and Heidenreich] had really popped up on film and from just watching Navy [on TV], before I was officially on staff. You could see these two kids from Pittsburgh had a knack for making plays," Cronic said.
 
"We try to be creative about getting them the ball," he added. "They are extremely versatile. To be able to move pieces around like that in this system is a big deal. They've improved as route runners and pass catchers. Eli has improved even more as a running back. Alex could play snipe if we needed him to. He's that good on the perimeter. Eli could play Alex's spot if needed."
 
"Every week, those two guys are a big part of the game plan. They have not disappointed," said Ivin Jasper, Navy's running backs coach. "Alex is a great runner with power, and he's elusive. He allows us to do so much [on offense], and he doesn't walk around like 'I'm the guy.' As a player and a person, he is off the charts for me."
 
Heidenreich was the first of the two Pittsburgh recruits to commit to Navy, shortly before the beginning of his senior year at Mt. Lebanon High. Tecza, who had received 10 offers, took more time to decide. He chose Navy not long after Mt. Lebanon had completed its perfect season.
 
"Those guys had such great chemistry. It was no surprise they wanted to continue that [at Navy]," said Joey Daniels, the quarterback of that undefeated Mt. Lebanon team. "I think Eli's decision was a big factor for Alex at the tail end of his recruiting process. I think he wanted to go along with his boy. And it has worked out great."
 
Tecza, who also lettered three times in lacrosse as a long stick defensive midfielder at Mt. Lebanon, said the sport helped him get to know Annapolis before it became his temporary home as a student-athlete. His club team made numerous stops there during the summers when he was growing up. He said every time he watches a lacrosse game at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium he misses playing the sport.
 
"I think Eli and I picked the right school. I think the academy balances our talents well. The Naval Academy is hard," said Tecza, who shares the same major with Heidenreich (cyber operations). The pair are aiming to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. "We have made good decisions together, put in a lot of good, hard work together. We've done a ton to improve our games in the offseason. We've leaned on each other."
 
"Our personalities are similar. We are fun-loving, relaxed dudes, not the most intense guys you will ever meet. I think that carries over to football. Alex and I don't get super high or low. We stay kind of level headed," Heidenreich said.
 
"Having Alex with me the whole way here has been a blessing. It was a big change of life coming here, a big transition going from being a civilian to being in the military," Heidenreich added.
 
David Cole, Navy's second-year snipes coach, can vouch for Heidenreich's steady personality. Cole is admittedly prone to an emotional outburst now and then. His intensity flares on the practice field or the sideline. But Heidenreich stays the same.
 
"Eli takes the game very seriously. He's very professional. And yet, he is still light and he keeps our position room light," Cole said. "I'm an excitable guy at times. The days, the season, the moments can be chaotic. Eli stays the same – even keel. He always has something positive to tell me – 'Smile, Coach Cole' or 'We love you, Coach Cole.' I'm soaking up every moment with him."
 
Having known each other since first grade as youth football league competitors in Mt. Lebanon, Tecza and Heidenreich displayed athletic gifts early on – so much so that, when coaches drafted players to fill out four recreation teams with a round robin schedule, Tecza and Heidenreich were drafted #1 and #2 for years. As a result, they spent six years never playing on the same side.
 
"I'm not sure I've ever seen Eli 'angry' angry, even in the most high-pressure situations," said David Heidenreich, Eli's father. "The two of them competed hard over the years. Sometimes Eli would be running around the end and juke Alex and get good yardage and sometimes Alex would lay him out. And vice versa. When you have two pretty elite kids on your side, that's when a team has a chance to be unstoppable."
 
"Alex has a way of 'getting thin' in the hole and slipping tacklers, like an agile bowling ball. Eli grew up snow ski racing. The jump cuts that he practiced on the slalom course really helped his vision and translated on the football field. Both of those guys really put their foot in the ground and go. They have incredible jump cuts."
 
Tecza and Heidenreich became teammates and buddies in eighth grade. After playing freshman ball together, they were a huge presence over the next three years in a Mount Lebanon uniform as two-way stars.
 
That experience culminated with Mount Lebanon beating St. Joseph's Prep, 35-17 in the PIAA Class 6A title game in December 2021. The Blue Devils finished 15-0 to win their first state title and finish No. 1 in the final Pennsylvania MaxPreps Top 25.
 
Both stars went out in style. Heidenreich finished his senior season with 2,266 all-purpose yards, including 1,330 yards receiving and scoring 29 touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had 60 tackles and four interceptions. Tecza rushed for 2,085 yards and scored 26 touchdowns, including three in the state final.
 
"Those guys made so many plays on both sides of the ball. Both even took turns at the quarterback role in the wildcat formation," said Daniels, who was known locally as part of "The Triplets" that included Tecza and Heidenreich. He still works out with the pair and has throwing sessions with his former teammates when they return for a visit.
 
"I started playing in the youth league in fourth grade, and those two were already a step ahead of everyone else," added Daniels. "They are still two of the better friends I've ever had."
 
Tecza and Heidenreich feel obvious satisfaction, as the Navy program is returning to the way things were before they arrived in Annapolis. The Mids' goal is to keep the momentum going with another strong finish.
 
"We didn't know how to win before. Last year's senior class took the wheel as we finally turned it around. Our class wants to keep that going," Tecza said.
 
"We started slowly in our recent win at Tulsa. After we came back to win, nobody was excited in the locker room after that game. Two years ago, there would have been loud cheering in the locker room. There is a higher standard again here, which is good to see."