BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- — Blake Horvath threw two long touchdown passes and led Navy's potent ground game with 84 yards rushing in a 41-18 victory over UAB on Saturday.

With the win, Navy improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference for the first time since 2017.

Horvath had a 20-yard touchdown run for the game's first score. Later, his 77-yard pass to Nathan Kent made it 21-3 with 31 seconds left in the first half. Kent tracked down a deep throw and raced the final 35 yards untouched for the score.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Horvath connected with Eli Heidenreich on a 74-yard pass play that made it 28-3.

The Midshipmen led 31-3 before UAB found the end zone when Jacob Zeno threw to Iverson Hooks for a 39-yard touchdown that made it 31-10 with about 5 minutes left in the third.

Daba Fofana ran 16 yards for a Navy touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Lee Beebe Jr.'s 2-yard run for UAB made it 38-18 with about 9 minutes remaining in the game.

Horvath completed 9 of 11 passes for 225 yards with the two touchdowns. Navy's ground total was nearly the same, with 227 yards on 42 carries.

Zeno was 14-of-22 passing for 202 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Beebe added 82 yards on 15 carries. The Blazers (1-3, 0-1) had 193 yards rushing.

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