Keenan Reynolds leads Navy to its first 11-win season with victory in Military Bowl

The players on Pittsburgh’s sideline were jumping and cheering as Quadree Henderson ran 100 yards with the opening kickoff of the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md.

Unfortunately, the Panthers spent the remainder of the day trying — unsuccessfully — to stop Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

Reynolds wrapped up his record-setting college career at Navy in spectacular fashion, running for three touchdowns and throwing for another Monday to lead the Midshipmen to a 44-28 victory.

Reynolds ran for 144 yards in 24 carries, completed nine of 17 passes for 126 yards and had a reception for 47 yards on a trick play.

“He’s a super football player,” Panthers first-year Coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Make no mistake, there were reasons he was in the [running] for the Heisman Trophy.”

Reynolds leaves Navy (11-2) as the Football Bowl Subdivision career leader with 88 touchdowns and 530 points. His 4,559 yards rushing are the most by a quarterback in Division I history.

Qadree Ollison rushed for 73 yards and scored two touchdowns for Pitt (8-5). Nate Peterman threw a touchdown pass but was intercepted three times.

The Panthers’ problem was that they couldn’t back up Henderson’s quick score.

“You feel like you have the momentum and you start fast, then we just couldn’t get anything going in the first half offensively,” Narduzzi said. “We got things going in the second half, but with a missed field goal and three interceptions, you aren’t going to win many football games.”

After Henderson went the distance, Navy took a 21-7 halftime lead and made it 31-7 midway through the third quarter.

Pittsburgh scored two touchdowns in 17 seconds to close to 31-21, but could not complete the comeback.

It was 38-28 when Reynolds capped a nine-play drive with a nine-yard run with 4:19 remaining. The touchdown broke a tie with Kenneth Dixon of Louisiana Tech atop the career chart.

“To be able to seal the game and get the record at the same time is pretty cool,” the 5-foot-11 senior said.

With Reynolds leading the way, the Midshipmen completed their first 11-win season in 135 years of football. That, more than all his personal accomplishments, is what he will remember.

“You play the game to win, so the record for wins is the one that means the most to me,” Reynolds said.

It was the first game for the Midshipmen since they beat Army and Coach Ken Niumatalolo decided to stay at Navy instead of taking the head coaching job at Brigham Young.

Niumatalolo was glad he stuck around for Reynolds’ finale.

“All of Keenan’s accolades are well deserved,” the coach said. “What an unbelievable career he’s had. Once in a generation, some of the things he’s done. We’re going to miss him.”

Playing before a sold-out crowd of 36,352 in its home stadium, Navy used its triple-option attack to overwhelm a team that went 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked 20th in the nation against the run. The Midshipmen finished with 590 yards in offense, including 417 on the ground — 114 by fullback Chris Swain.

Minnesota defeats Central Michigan in Quick Lane Bowl

For most of the game, Minnesota could rely on its defense. When the Golden Gophers briefly fell behind in the fourth quarter, quarterback Mitch Leidner responded.

Leidner ran 13 yards for a touchdown with 4:26 remaining, and the Golden Gophers held on for a 21-14 win over Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday night in Detroit.

Minnesota (6-7) ended a trying season on a positive note. Coach Jerry Kill retired in late October because of continued difficulty managing his epilepsy and his job. The Gophers were 5-7 after the regular season but were able to play on because not enough teams reached six wins to fill all the bowls.

All three teams that went to bowls at 5-7 — Minnesota, Nebraska and San Jose State — ended up winning them.

Central Michigan (7-6) took a 14-13 lead with 11:08 remaining on a 13-yard touchdown run by Romello Ross. Minnesota responded by driving 74 yards in 13 plays.

Leidner ran for the go-ahead touchdown, then threw to KJ Maye for a two-point conversion.