Memphis opened the game looking like the team we’ve seen all season.
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Tickets are available online at www.gotigersgotix.com as well as by phone at (901) 678-2331 and at the Athletic Ticket Office located inside the Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame at the Athletic Office Building (570 Normal Street on campus).
Quarterback Keenan Reynolds did not break the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns as anticipated, but he threw the longest touchdown pass of his career and directed an offense that rolled up 459 yards.
Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) passes against Memphis in the…
Navy’s run game was the Tigers’ downfall, with the team racking up almost 400 yards on the ground from eight different ballcarriers.
As a freshman, Reynolds got the nod as the starting quarterback just five games into his time at Annapolis, with the team just 1-3.
Once Reynolds took over the job, he saw instant success and it turned into wins, with the Mid’s losing just one more time during the 2013 regular season.
“If it takes me not scoring a touchdown for us to win the game, I’ll take the win”, he said. Reynolds launched a flawless pass that hit Sanders in stride around midfield and he easily outraced the lone chasing defender to put the Mids back ahead, 24-17, at the 6:43 mark of the third quarter.
Memphis star quarterback Paxton Lynch had an off day, completing only 26 of 42 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown while tossing an interception. Navy’s diverse rushing attack can be unstoppable, and if the Midshipmen’s defense performs like it did Saturday, this is an extremely unsafe team.
One nuance the Tigers will have to be ready for on Saturday is the offense not having as many possessions as previous games this year.
Memphis moved to the visiting 22-yard line on its second possession, but had to settle for a 40-yard field goal from Jake Elliott that made the score 10-7 with 29 seconds left in the first quarter. “It really is”, Fuente said.
Fuente said the key to playing against Navy will be to sound-minded and disciplined. Opponents have held halftime advantages over Memphis four other times this season.
“Right off the top of my head I can’t remember anything bigger”, Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said when asked about the magnitude of the win. There are going to be a few times, whether it is the quarterback or wing back, they get the ball to the edge then it is going to be a one-on-one tackle.
And Reynolds is also a very capable passer. Swain scored from 3 yards. Coburn had the strip, and cornerback Quincy Adams recovered at the Navy 49, but the Midshipmen went three plays and punted.
There are a number of indicators out there that he could do it because, as good as Memphis is, the 8-0, 4-0 Tigers have a high-octane offense that is fueled by the number of opportunities it has with the ball. The teams are at the opposite end of the AAC penalty spectrum.
Saturday’s game can be heard locally on AM600 WREC as well as WAMB-AM 1160 in Nashville and WJAK-AM 1460 in Jackson, Tenn.
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ESPN2 will have the broadcast of the game.
