Navy routs VMI, 52-7, in football season opener | PHOTOS

August 30, 2025 by The Baltimore Sun

The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

Navy coach Brian Newberry walks to the locker room after pregame warmups. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's TK Hodges picks up a first down on a run before being brought down by VMI's Steven Riveros in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s TK Hodges picks up a first down on a run before being brought down by VMI’s Steven Riveros in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy backup quarterback Braxton Woodson gains yards on a run in the third quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy backup quarterback Braxton Woodson breaks a huge run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy fan Suzannah Dorsey, 9, dances like no one is watching during the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy running back Shane Reynolds picks up positive yards on a run in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's TK Hodges picks up a first down on a run before being brought down by VMI's Steven Riveros in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s TK Hodges picks up a first down on a run before being brought down by VMI’s Steven Riveros in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy backup quarterback Braxton Woodson breaks a huge run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Navy Midshipmen win their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets, 52-7, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath gains nine-yards on a run in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's Alex Tecza gains yards on a run in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s Alex Tecza gains yards on a run in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

The Naval Academy Color Guard during the national anthem and flyover. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy running back Alex Tecza runs in for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy cornerback Justin Ross breaks up a pass to VMI's Malik McNeely in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy cornerback Justin Ross breaks up a pass to VMI’s Malik McNeely in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Midshipmen during the national anthem. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath complete a pass to Luke Hutchison in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's Eli Heidenreich makes as catch for a first down before being stopped by VMI's Joe Comello in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s Eli Heidenreich makes as catch for a first down before being stopped by VMI’s Joe Comello in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

The Midshipmen take the field. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy linebacker MarcAnthony Parker sacks VMI quarterback Collin Shannon and Navy takes over on downs in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy linebacker MarcAnthony Parker sacks VMI quarterback Collin Shannon and Navy takes over on downs in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's Eli Heidenreich catches a Blake Horvath pass for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s Eli Heidenreich catches a Blake Horvath pass for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Bill The Goat pumps up the midshipmen as the run to the seats after the March On. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Midshipmen celebrate a touchdown in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Nav y quarterback Blake Horvath picks up a first down on a run in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

The Naval Academy Color Guard during the national anthem and flyover. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

The Midshipmen take the field. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy's Michael Barrow runs it in for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — Navy’s Michael Barrow runs it in for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

VMI's Leo Boehling is stopped on the run by Navy's MarcAnthony Parker after a gain of two yards in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) — VMI’s Leo Boehling is stopped on the run by Navy’s MarcAnthony Parker after a gain of two yards in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath hands off to Michael Barrow who runs it in for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Bill The Goat before the game. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy coach Brian Newberry during pregame warmups. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Midshipmen from the 5th Company, commanded by midshipmen 1/C Chris Kirchner, from Severna Park, stands on the field during the March On. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Midshipmen from the 5th Company, commanded by midshipmen 1/C Chris Kirchner, from Severna Park, stands on the field during the March On. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Navy coach Brian Newberry walks to the locker room after pregame warmups. The Navy Midshipmen play their NCAA football season opener at home against the visiting VMI Keydets at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)