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| 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 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. | 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 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). | |
| [Feinstein: Keenan Reynolds and a true Hollywood ending] | |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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. | 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 in 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 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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.” | “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.” |
| [Niumatalolo to stay at Navy after talking to BYU] | |
| 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. | 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. |
| It was Navy’s second appearance in this bowl game. The Midshipmen participated in the inaugural event 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. | |
| “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 a team, it’s pretty awesome.” |