East Carolina @ Navy preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 27, 2012 ) Navy 56, East Carolina 28

Navy's Keenan Reynolds continues his quest to become the FBS' all-time leader in touchdowns when the Midshipmen host East Carolina on Saturday. Directing the triple option, the senior quarterback has 65 career touchdowns - all rushing - and needs just 13 rushing scores and 19 total touchdowns to eclipse the career marks held by former Wisconsin star Montee Ball.

As a three-touchdown underdog, East Carolina nearly stunned Florida last week. The Pirates were driving for the game-tying touchdown in the final minutes but lost a fumble in the red zone sealing their fate in the 31-24 setback. Reynolds was just a freshman the last time the two teams met and Navy rushed for 512 yards in a 56-28 win at East Carolina in 2012. Saturday begins a new chapter for the Midshipmen, who will be playing their first game in the American Athletic Conference.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Navy -3.5.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (1-1): East Carolina quarterback Blake Kemp racked up 333 yards on 34-of-55 passing including three touchdowns and wide receiver Isaiah Jones totaled 135 yards and a touchdown on 14 catches for the Pirates against Florida last week. The Pirates, however, could do nothing on the ground and were held to minus-2 rushing yards. East Carolina, which dropped a 28-20 decision to Florida in last year's Birmingham Bowl, opened the season with an eight-point win over FCS foe Towson.

ABOUT NAVY (1-0): The Midshipmen buried Colgate 48-10 in their opener as fullback Chris Swain rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half. Navy's option attack has given East Carolina fits in the team's last three meetings, scoring 167 points and piling up 1,317 rushing yards. Navy scored 76 and 56 points against East Carolina in two victories sandwiching a 38-35 loss in 2011, the last time the teams met in Annapolis, Md.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Senior RB Chris Hairston leads East Carolina with four touchdowns and 169 yards rushing yards.

2. Navy rushed for 371 yards in its opening win against Colgate.

3. Kemp, a junior, has thrown for 563 yards in two games this season.

PREDICTION: Navy 35, East Carolina 32