Keenan Reynolds, Navy dominate ECU 45-21

East Carolina welcomed Navy to the American Athletic Conference in the most accommodating fashion as it allowed Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds to rush for an AAC-record five touchdowns to win their conference debut 45-21 Saturday.

Navy (2-0, 1-0), which has played as an independent for 134 years before joining the AAC this season, was powered by Reynolds’ historic performance.

The senior leader of Navy’s triple-option offense galloped for 142 yards on 24 attempts, while his five touchdowns allowed him to continue to sail up the NCAA record books.

Thanks to his five scores, Reynolds has 70 career touchdowns, which ranks fourth on the NCAA all-time list, putting him one ahead of former Texas Tech star Taurean Henderson (2002-05).

Reynolds, already the NCAA all-time leader in rushing TDs by a quarterback, ranks fourth on the career rushing touchdown list behind former Texas running back Ricky Williams (75).

The star QB also completed four of his seven pass attempts for 41 yards.

Navy fullback Chris Swain was nearly as effective, gaining 123 yards and one touchdown on 29 attempts.

The loss was the second straight for the Pirates, (1-2, 0-1), who fell 31-24 to Florida last week and are now 1-3 versus the Midshipmen during sixth-year coach Ruffin McNeill’s tenure.

The Pirates were led by receiver Isaiah Jones, who caught 10 passes for a game-high 130 yards, while Bryce Williams had five receptions for 47 yards and scored two touchdowns.

ECU quarterback Blake Kemp completed 36 of his 49 pass attempts for 325 yards, three touchdowns and one interceptions, but Navy controlled the game from the start.

Navy didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard. The Midshipmen defense stopped the Pirates on their opening drive when ECU failed to convert on fourth-and-7 at the Navy 32 and rumbled 68 yards the other way for the game’s first score.

Fullback Chris Swain powered the drive, which ended when Reynolds plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out to take a 7-0 lead.

ECU answered when Kemp led the Pirates on a crisp 11-play drive that ended with a 2-yard pass to wide receiver Jimmy Williams to even the score at seven with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

The score would quickly sway back in favor of the Midshipmen thanks to Reynolds’ second touchdown of the game, a 1-yarder that capped off a 56-yard drive to give Navy a 14-7 advantage.

The Mids didn’t have far to travel thanks to a 37-yard kick return by Dishan Romine, which coupled with an ECU offsides penalty, allowed them to start the drive at their own 44-yard line.

On the ensuing possession, the Pirates quickly advanced to the Navy 22, but their drive suffered a setback when Kemp was sacked for a 9-yard loss.

Facing fourth-and-12 at the 31, ECU lined up as if it was ready to go for it before McNeill called for a timeout. When play resumed Davis Plowman attempted a 48-yard attempt, but it sailed wide left.

After the missed attempt, Reynolds hit DeBrandon Sanders for a 23-yard gain, which eventually led to a Reynolds 3-yard TD run and a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

Navy extended the lead to 28-7 on a 13-play, 85-yard drive that ended when Swain scored on a 4-yard TD run.

With the game slipping out of reach, ECU kept within striking distance thanks to a 17-yard TD pass from Kemp to 6-6 wideout Bryce Williams on a seam route with three seconds left in the half to make it 28-14.

East Carolina’s desperation was on display early in the second half when it opted to go for it twice on fourth-and-1, but was not able to come away with points. The Pirates made their first fourth down attempt thanks to a Chris Hairston 2-yard run.

However, the Pirates weren’t so lucky on the next attempt. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Navy 41-yard line, Navy sacked Kemp to put an end to ECU’s drive.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter.

Reynolds reached the end zone two times in fourth quarter, with his last one giving the Mids 42-21 lead with 3:45 on the clock.

Navy would close out the game with a 25-yard field goal.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 7:29 PM with the headline "Keenan Reynolds, Navy dominate ECU 45-21."