Navy 31, Central Michigan 13
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- On Navy's official roster, quarterback Keenan Reynolds is listed as a true freshman.
Reynolds did not play like one Friday night at Central Michigan's Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Making his first career start in place of the injured Trey Miller, Reynolds threw for three touchdowns and helped the Midshipmen salt away the game in the second half as they downed the Chippewas 31-13.
Reynolds finished with 139 passing yards and another 59 yards on the ground as he was solid all-around in helping Navy improve to 3-3 on the season. Central Michigan falls to 2-4.
With the score still a close 17-10 Navy advantage at halftime, Central Michigan ate up some clock on its first drive of the second half as it went 11 plays and 75 yards before David Harman kicked a 22-yard field goal to put the score at 17-13.
Cutting it to one score was short-lived for the hosts as the Midshipmen answered with a five-plus minute drive to push the lead up to 24-13, ending it on a 2-yard Prentice Christian TD plunge.
Navy continued its surge the rest of the quarter as it pushed the lead to 31-13, tacking on another touchdown on a Reynolds 41-yard pass to Gee Gee Greene.
After CMU failed to record a first down on its opening drive of the fourth quarter, starting quarterback Ryan Radcliff was yanked in favor of redshirt sophomore Cody Kater the rest of the way. Both of Kater's drives thereafter did not result in a single first down.
Reynolds started fast. He led the Midshipmen on a 74-yard opening drive that ended in a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Turner. Reynolds completed both of his passes on the drive for a total of 49 yards.
Central Michigan's Saylor Lavallii returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards to put the Chippewas in prime real estate. Central Michigan could not do a whole lot with the possession, however, and were forced to settle with a 29-yard David Harman field goal. That made it 7-3 at the 8:32 mark of the opening quarter.
Navy's early offensive prowess continued on its next drive, eating up large chunks of yards and having it culminated by a Reynolds 19-yard TD strike to a wide open Gee Gee Greene at the front of the end zone, extending the lead to 14-3.
With 3:10 left in the first quarter, Sloan tacked on a 37-yard field goal to extend the Navy advantage to 17-3.
