SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 24, 2014
Navy 17, San Diego State 16: Keenan Reynolds rushed for two touchdowns and Austin Grebe kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1:27 left as the Midshipmen edged the Aztecs in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Chris Swain rushed for 72 yards as Navy (8-5) gained 254 of its 271 total yards on the ground and won despite committing four turnovers. Ryan Williams-Jenkins gained 67 rushing yards for the Midshipmen, who escaped with the win when Donny Hageman missed a 34-yard field goal with 24 seconds left.
Donnel Pumphrey had 21 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown for San Diego State (7-6), which turned the ball over three times and was 2-for-12 on third-down conversions. Quinn Kaehler was 11-of-27 for 141 yards with two interceptions as the Aztecs lost for the first time in seven games at Qualcomm Stadium this season.
Kaehler threw an interception on San Diego Stateกฏs first possession and Navy capped its opening 10-play, 42-yard drive with Reynoldsกฏ 1-yard touchdown run. The Aztecs answered with Pumphreyกฏs 5-yard score and closed the first quarter with a 10-7 lead following Hagemanกฏs 43-yard field goal.
Hageman added a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter and San Diego State led 13-7 at the half after holding Navy to 82 total yards, including 74 on the ground. The Midshipmen regained the lead midway through the third quarter as Reynolds capped a 92-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run before the Aztecs answered with Hagemanกฏs 30-yard field goal.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pumphrey became San Diego Stateกฏs single-season rushing leader with 1,867 yards, passing George Jones. กญ San Diego State played without leading receiver Ezell Ruffin, who was left off the bowl roster after missing practice earlier in the week. กญ Noah Copeland rushed for 63 yards for Navy, which has won a bowl game in back-to-back years for the second time in school history.