This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/keenan-reynolds-caps-record-setting-navy-career-with-military-bowl-victory/2015/12/28/577aec9c-adb0-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Keenan Reynolds caps record-setting Navy career with Military Bowl victory Keenan Reynolds caps record-setting Navy career with Military Bowl victory
(about 3 hours later)
In the final game of his record-setting career in a Navy uniform, senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds set a few more, and the No. 21 Midshipmen capped a historic season with a 44-28 win against Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon in the Military Bowl in front of 36,352 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. In the final game of his record-setting career in a Navy uniform, senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds collected a few more, and the No. 21 Midshipmen punctuated a historic season with a 44-28 win against Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon in the Military Bowl in front of 36,352 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Reynolds accounted for 317 total yards and four touchdowns on the way to becoming the NCAA’s all-time leader in total touchdowns (88), rushing yards by a quarterback (4,559) and points scored (530). He also finished as part of a senior class that set the single-season record for wins at Navy and joined the Class of 1909 for most wins in school history (36). Reynolds accounted for 317 total yards and four touchdowns on the way to becoming Football Bowl Subdivision’s all-time leader in total touchdowns (88), rushing yards by a quarterback (4,559) and points scored (530). He also finished as part of a senior class that set the single-season record for wins at Navy and joined the Class of 1909 for most wins in school history (36).
Navy (11-2) won a third straight bowl game for the first time by amassing Military Bowl records of 590 total yards and 417 rushing yards. Navy (11-2) won a third straight bowl game for the first time by amassing Military Bowl records of 590 total yards and 417 rushing yards. The defense, meanwhile, did not allow a point in the first half and had three interceptions of Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Peterman, all in the second half.
Reynolds’s record-setting touchdown came on a nine-yard run with 4 minutes 19 seconds left in the game for the final margin. The winningest quarterback in school history ended with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns and completed 9 of 17 passes for 126 yards and another score. Fullback Chris Swain added 114 rushing yards to finish with 1,023 this season. “Obviously all of Keenan’s accolades are well-deserved,” Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo said of the game’s most valuable player. “What an unbelievable career he’s had. It’s once in a generation some of the things he’s done. Things he’s done, nobody else has been able to do, so we’re going to miss him.”
The defense contributed with three interceptions of Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Peterson, including two by junior cornerback Brendon Clements. Reynolds’s record-setting touchdown came on a nine-yard run with 4 minutes 19 seconds left in the game for the final margin. The winningest quarterback in school history ended with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns and completed 9 of 17 passes for 126 yards and another score. Senior fullback Chris Swain added 114 rushing yards to finish with 1,023 this season.
The Midshipmen were ahead by 24 points when Pittsburgh (8-5) scored a pair of touchdowns within 17 seconds late in the third quarter to make it interesting. Running back Qadree Ollison’s four-yard run came first, capping a 10-play, 85-yard drive. The Panthers had runs of 20 and 21 yards in the first three snaps of the possession to get into Navy territory. The Midshipmen were ahead by 24 points when Pittsburgh (8-5) scored a pair of touchdowns within 17 seconds late in the third quarter to keep the Panthers within reach. Running back Qadree Ollison’s four-yard run came first, capping a 10-play, 85-yard drive. The Panthers had runs of 20 and 21 yards in the first three snaps of the possession to get into Navy territory.
On Navy’s ensuing possession, Swain fumbled and defensive back Jordan Whitehead scooped up the loose ball for a 22-yard touchdown return, drawing the Panthers to 31-21 with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter. It was just the sixth lost fumble for the Midshipmen this season.On Navy’s ensuing possession, Swain fumbled and defensive back Jordan Whitehead scooped up the loose ball for a 22-yard touchdown return, drawing the Panthers to 31-21 with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter. It was just the sixth lost fumble for the Midshipmen this season.
Junior slot back Toneo Gulley answered for Navy with a 15-yard run in which he took a pitch to the outside but cut inside to reach the end zone. The Midshipmen converted two fourth downs in the series. The first of those came one play after Reynolds completed a 15-yard pass to junior wide receiver Jamir Tillman on third and 17. Junior slotback Toneo Gulley answered for Navy with a 15-yard run in which he took a pitch to the outside but cut inside to reach the end zone. The Midshipmen converted two fourth downs in the series. The first of those came one play after Reynolds completed a 15-yard pass to junior wide receiver Jamir Tillman on third and 17.
Navy scored on its first two possessions of the second half to take a 31-7 lead with 8:11 left in the third quarter. The Midshipmen’s first second-half series resulted in senior slot back Demond Brown’s 26-yard run on a pitch around the right side. Navy had reached Panthers territory three plays earlier when Reynolds caught a 47-yard pass from third-string fullback Shawn White on a trick play. “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced here at the Naval Academy,” Swain said. “To win at home, to win 11 games, to win a bowl game; it’s just a great feeling. I’m still soaking it in.”
After forcing a Pittsburgh punt, the Midshipmen settled for senior place kicker Austin Grebe’s 35-yard field goal when their drive stalled at the 17. Reynolds did have a 48-yard run into Panthers territory that set the quarterback rushing record, passing former Michigan standout Denard Robinson. Navy scored on its first two possessions of the second half to take a 31-7 lead with 8:11 left in the third quarter. The Midshipmen’s first second-half series resulted in senior slotback Demond Brown’s 26-yard run on a pitch around the right side. Navy had reached Panthers territory three plays earlier when Reynolds caught a 47-yard pass from third-string fullback Shawn White on a trick play.
Invited to the East-West Shrine Game as a running back, Reynolds showed some flair throwing the ball during a lengthy drive toward the end of the first half. On third and six, he completed a 12-yard throw to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Carmona before finding senior slot back DeBrandon Sanders for 14 yards to the Pittsburgh 18. After forcing a Pittsburgh punt, the Midshipmen got senior place kicker Austin Grebe’s 35-yard field goal when their drive stalled at the 17. Reynolds did have a 48-yard run into Panthers territory that set the quarterback rushing record, passing former Michigan standout Denard Robinson.
Two plays later, Reynolds connected with Carmona for an 11-yard touchdown for a 21-7 lead. The Panthers had the final possession of the first half and moved to the Navy 17-yard line in the closing seconds, but junior cornerback Brendon Clements intercepted quarterback Nate Peterson’s throw in the end zone to preserve the margin going into the locker room. Invited to the East-West Shrine Game as a running back, Reynolds showed some flair throwing the ball during a lengthy drive toward the end of the first half. On third and six, he completed a 12-yard throw to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Carmona before finding senior slotback DeBrandon Sanders for 14 yards to the Pittsburgh 18.
Navy took its first lead, 14-7, on Reynolds’s five-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds to play in the first quarter to cap a 14-play, 86-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. The Midshipmen converted three third downs, including a third and eight courtesy of Reynolds’s 16-yard completion to Sanders on a misdirection play that had the Panthers moving in the wrong direction. Two plays later, Reynolds connected with Carmona for an 11-yard touchdown for a 21-7 lead. The Panthers had the final possession of the first half and moved to the Navy 17-yard line in the closing seconds, but Clements’s interception in the end zone preserved the margin going into the locker room.
“The seniors got together early on in the offseason, and we just decided that we wanted to be a little different this year, do some things that made us different on and off the field” senior co-captain Bernard Sarra said. “Everyone bought in pretty well. It just became contagious throughout the whole locker room. I think the results show for themselves.”
Navy took its first lead, 14-7, on Reynolds’s five-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds to play in the first quarter to cap a 14-play, 86-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. The Midshipmen converted three third downs, including a third and eight courtesy of Reynolds’s 16-yard completion to Sanders on a misdirection play.
The Panthers took a 7-0 lead on Quadree Henderson’s 100-yard return of the game’s opening kickoff. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in Military Bowl history and the second against Navy this season.The Panthers took a 7-0 lead on Quadree Henderson’s 100-yard return of the game’s opening kickoff. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in Military Bowl history and the second against Navy this season.
Reynolds’s one-yard touchdown a little more than five minutes later tied the score. The drive covered 75 yards and included a 12-yard pass from Reynolds to Tillman on second and nine. Navy also converted its only third down during the possession, with Swain gaining nine yards when the Midshipmen needed five. It was Navy’s second appearance in this bowl game. The Midshipmen participated in the inaugural incarnation in 2008 when it was called the EagleBank Bowl and played at RFK Stadium. Navy lost to Wake Forest, 29-19, to close the first full season under Niumatalolo.
It was Navy’s second appearance in this bowl game. The Midshipmen participated in the inaugural incarnation in 2008 when it was called the EagleBank Bowl and played at RFK Stadium. Navy lost to Wake Forest, 29-19, to close the first full season under Ken Niumatalolo, whose first game was the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl following the departure of former coach Paul Johnson to Georgia Tech. “You always want to go out with a bang,” said Reynolds, a co-captain and Heisman Trophy contender who became the sixth quarterback to accrue 4,000 yards each rushing and passing. “To win as team, it’s pretty awesome.”