ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for a pair of touchdowns and the Midshipmen forced three straight turnovers in the second half for a 31-14 victory over Tulane on Saturday.
Reynolds is now just two shy of the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns set by former Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball (77) from 2009-2012.
Navy (5-1, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) entered the game ranked third nationally with 335.4 yards rushing per game but was held to just 133 as Tulane stacked nine players in the box. Reynolds had just 38 yards on 23 carries.
The Midshipmen stopped the Green Wave on a fourth-and-1 midway through the third quarter and took over at their own 34-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Navy extended its lead to 17-7 on a 9-yard run by Quentin Ezell, who has five touchdowns on 46 carries this season.
Tulane (2-5, 1-3) got down to Navy's 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter but a fumble by Tanner Lee was recovered by Navy's Will Anthony. It was the 13th straight game the Midshipmen forced a turnover.
Lorentez Barbour had another big defensive play for Navy, intercepting Lee at the Tulane 36. That later set up a 1-yard run by Reynolds.
On the ensuing possession, the Mids got their third straight turnover on another fumble by Lee that was recovered by D.J. Palmore on the Tulane 23. Navy backup quarterback Tago Smith threw a 24-yard pass to Calvin Cass Jr, for the 31-7 lead.
That ended Lee's day as back-up Jordy Joseph hit Charles Jones for a 13-yard touchdown that cut into the final margin. Lee, who missed the previous game against Houston with a concussion, was 22 of 31 for 205 yards with his first career interception.
On a fourth-and-goal from the Tulane 8-yard line, Reynolds ran four yards and scored two plays later on Navy's opening drive. That was his first rushing touchdown after being held scoreless the past two games.
The Green Wave tied the game at 7 on a 19-yard run by sophomore tailback Dontrell Hilliard with 10:43 left in the half, capping a 7-play, 60-yard drive.
Reynolds, who was sacked three times in the first half, converted another fourth-and-2 from midfield and threw a 41-yard pass to Jamir Tillman on the next play. However, the Mids had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Austin Grebe.
Tulane's Trevor Simms missed a 49-yard field goal attempt as time expired and Navy led 10-7 at the half. The Midshipmen were held to 44 yards rushing in the opening two quarters -- their lowest output since 2013 against Western Kentucky.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
