Navy outscored South Alabama 22-0 in the second half to break open what was a close first half for a 42-14 win. The win, Navy's sixth on the season, made them Bowl eligible and the Mids accepted an invitation to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on December 30 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Mids will play an opponent from the Mountain West Conference. The bowl game will be Navy's tenth in the last eleven years.
The win was also coach Ken Niumatalolo's 46th victory and moves him to third place in victories at the Naval Academy. Coach showed his emotional side this afternoon by being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during the game and then by getting emotional talking about his seniors at the post game press conference.
Senior Darius Staten led the Mids with 127 yards on just 7 carries and scored a touchdown early in the second quarter when both teams were trading scores.
Keenan Reynolds rushed for 71 yards on the afternoon and scored is 19th rushing touchdown of the season which ties him for the lead in the FBS this season.
Navy's offense racked up 519 total yards in the game and held a tough USA team to just 14 points, their lowest of the year. Today's game was the third time this season that the Mids amassed over 500 yards of offense.
Navy finished the season undefeated at home, their first undefeated season at home since 2004, and now prepare to travel to San Jose State next Friday to take on the Spartans at 9:30 PM EST (ESPN2).
Navy finishes up the regular season against Army in Philadelphia on December 14.
