Navy 24 - FAU 17, Recap

Navy was able to hold on for a 24-17 win over visiting Florida Atlantic in front of 29,336 fans at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  The win makes Navy bowl eligible for the ninth time in ten years and the Mids have already accepted a bid to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on December 29.  They will play against a Pac-12 team.

FAU jumped out to an early 10-0 lead over Navy in the first quarter.  Jonathan Wallace was the workhorse all afternoon for the Owls.  He ran the ball 28 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns.  Wallace accounted for all but nine rushing yards for FAU on the afternoon.  Complementing Wallace on the offensive side was QB Graham Wilbert.  Wilbert was 25-35 passing for 205 yards.  

Keenan Reynolds

Navy gained a spark from freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds in the second quarter and the momentum shifted.  Reynolds led the Midshipmen in rushing with 26 carries for 169 yards and one touchdown.  He also was 8-15 passing with 147 yards and two touchdowns.  The freshman has been the offensive leader since taking over for an injured Trey Miller during the Air Force game.  Since then Navy has gone 4-0 with Reynolds as the starter.

In the fourth quarter, Reynolds was injured and had to be taken to the locker room for an elbow injury.  Reynolds returned the next series and he says he's alright.

"I'm fine.  I'm not really sure what it is, but I am fine."

He confirmed that the injury was his left elbow.

Brandon Turner

Brandon Turner caught both of Reynolds' TD passes on the afternoon - 14 yards and 31 yards.  He says he told Reynolds to get him the ball.

"In the huddle I told Keenan to not be afraid to throw it up.  I had a clean release and I looked back.  I can't see Keenan because he is so short, so I couldn't see the ball come out.  I caught it, turned around and saw the end zone was there."

FAU halfback, Wallace scored his second TD in the fourth quarter to cut Navy's lead to seven, but the Mids defense stood tall and the offense was able to control the ball to hold on for the win.

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo was pleased with the win.  

"I'm really proud of our players, our seniors especially.  In January they set a goal for themselves to get back to a bowl game and win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.  They have given us a chance to do both."

Navy improves to 6-3 after losing three of their first four games to start the season.  FAU falls to 2-7.  Navy travels to Troy next Saturday.