SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 30, 2013
Navy 24, Middle Tennessee 6: Quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Midshipmen took control late to knock off the Blue Raiders at the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Forth Worth, Texas.
DeBrandon Sanders added a rushing touchdown and the defense forced a pair of turnovers as Navy (9-4) picked up its first bowl win since 2009. Reynolds passed for just 19 yards but guided a triple-option offense that churned out 366 yards on the ground.
Logan Kilgore completed 19-of-33 passes for 218 yards and a pair of interceptions foe Middle Tennessee (8-5). Kyle Griswould caught nine passes for 106 yards to lead the receiving corps for the Blue Raiders.
Reynolds capped the opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Midshipmen a quick lead and Nick Sloan’s 32-yard field goal less than a minute into the second made it 10-3. Middle Tennessee cut it to 10-6 at the half but could not take advantage of a pair of fumbles.
Reynolds capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard burst with 10:48 left to provide some breathing room, and Kilgore was intercepted by George Jamison two plays later. Sanders made the Blue Raiders pay by taking the pitch and cutting to the right sideline before turning back to the middle for a 41-yard TD run that put the game away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Navy S Wave Ryder was ejected in the first half due to a targeting penalty. … Reynolds finished with 31 rushing touchdowns, extending his record for the most by a QB in Division I. … Middle Tennessee has not won a bowl game since the 2009 New Orleans Bowl.