Navy Football Getting No Respect

Navy's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Information, Scott Strasemeier, shared this interesting fact about this year's Navy football team. 

Despite coming off a school record 11 win season against just two losses, winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, the Lambert Trophy (best team in the East), sharing the American Athletic Conference West Division Championship with Houston and winning the Military Bowl, Navy is one of just four schools in the country that did not have one player make any of the numerous preseason award watch lists for 2016.  

The other three schools were UTSA (3-9 last year), North Texas (1-11) and UCF (0-12).

Navy opens the 2016 season at home on September 3 against Fordham.

EARLY ONSLAUGHT PROPELS PENNSY IN 59th BIG 33 CLASSIC

Article submitted by Jeff Batzel

 

Pennsylvania used a stifling defense, a pass on their first offensive play that completely caught Maryland off-guard, and a punishing running attack enroute to a 26-14 victory in the 59th Big 33 Classic at Hersheypark Stadium on Saturday night.

 

A Damar Hamlin (Pittsburgh Central Catholic-Pitt) interception of a batted Maryland pass in the first three minutes of the game set the stage for a Devante Cross (Parkland-Virginia) to Miles Sanders (Woodland Hills-Penn State) pass to get things started.   Sanders, a runningback, ran a backside wheel route and Cross came back to the weak side to find him completely unguarded for a TD on Pennsylvania’s first play from scrimmage.

 

Two more TD’s in just over a 3-minutes time span in the 2nd quarter added to the damage.  Again it was Sanders and his HS teammate Jo-El Shaw (Woodland Hills-Syracuse) doing the damage as runners behind the superb work of the Keystone State’s Offensive Line.   Sanders, the game's MVP, would score again in the third quarter on a 19 yard run to seal the deal.  Sanders had 7 rushes for 73 yards while Shaw had 80 yards on 14 totes of the pigskin.

 

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s defense was stifling and limited Maryland to just 143 total yards on the evening.  JoeJay Smith (Beth Catholic-Garden City CC) added a 2nd interception for Pennsylvania.

 

Maryland did get on the board twice late in the game, both on big plays when the game was no longer in doubt.   

Aaron Matthews (Clairton/Pitt) who led Pennsylania with 89 yards receiving makes a catch over the middle and is brought down by Maryland's Martin Foray, a St. Francis University of PA recruit.

 

Pennsylvania 26, Maryland 14

Pennsylvania - 6 - 13 - 7 - 0 -- 26
Maryland - 0 - 0 - 0 - 14 -- 14

Scoring Summary
First quarter
PA-Miles Sanders 21 pass from Devante Cross (kick failed), 8:52
Second quarter
PA-Sanders 5 run (pass failed), 8:37
PA-Jo-El Shaw 3 run (Mike Cushma kick), 5:24
Third quarter
PA-Sanders 19 run (Cushma kick), 8:59
Fourth quarter
MD-Dae’lun Darien 35 pass from Shawn Bliss (Mike Shinsky kick), 5:53
MD-Martin Foray Jr. 62 interception return (Shinsky kick), 1:43

Keenan Reynolds Drafted In The Sixth Round By The Baltimore Ravens

ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Navy senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft on Saturday by the Baltimore Ravens. It is the second-consecutive year that Navy has had a player drafted. Last year, long snapper Joe Cardona was drafted in the fifth round by the New England Patriots. Reynolds is just the 16^th Naval Academy player to be drafted and just the fifth to go in the top seven rounds.

“All I needed was for someone to put their neck on the line for me and I’m so thankful that the Baltimore Ravens did just that and I can promise they won’t regret making an investment in me,” said Reynolds.  “I’ve always loved playing at M&T Bank Stadium and I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Baltimore Ravens organization. I can’t wait to get started.”

“This is a great day for Keenan, his family and the Navy Football Brotherhood,” said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.  “Keenan is one of the greatest players in Navy Football history and we are all thrilled he’s going to one of the best organizations in the NFL in the Baltimore Ravens.”

“Keenan Reynolds has been the best player in college football over the last four years and I’m thrilled that he is getting the opportunity that he deserves,” said Navy offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper.  “He is one of the smartest football players I’ve ever been around and I expect him to do very well.”

Reynolds finished his Navy career with a 32-13 record, which are the most wins in school history by a quarterback.  He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting this year and was named a Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press.  He was named the winner of the Sullivan Award, which is given to the nation’s top amateur athlete.

Reynolds led Navy to a school record 11 wins against just two losses in 2015, which included wins over Air Force and Army to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and a victory over Pitt to win the Military Bowl.  The Mids also won the Lambert Trophy, which signifies the best team in the East, for the first time since 1963 and finished the year ranked 18^th in the country in both the Associated Press and Coaches poll

Reynolds was 7-1 in Service Academy games, including a 4-0 mark against Army.  He is the only quarterback in the history of the Army-Navy game to win four games.  His seven career touchdowns scored are the most in the history of the Army-Navy game.

Reynolds scored 88 touchdowns in his career, which are the most rushing touchdowns in Division I history and the most total touchdowns in FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) history.  Ironically, the man that is second to Reynolds with 87 career touchdowns is Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon, who was also drafted by the Ravens.

Reynolds scored three or more touchdowns in a game 17 times in his career, the most in FBS history. He is the first player in FBS history to score 23 or more rushing touchdowns in a season three different times. His 530 career points scored are the most in FBS history.

His 4,559 career rushing yards are the most in FBS history by a quarterback and the most in school history by any player. He is just the sixth player in FBS history to rush and pass for 4,000 yards in a career.  His 22 career 100-yard rushing games are the most in school history.

Reynolds also set the school record for passing touchdowns with 31, while throwing just eight interceptions in 462 career attempts giving him the lowest interception percentage in school history.

On Feb. 28 he became just the fourth player in school history and the first as a current midshipman to have his number retired (#19).

Reynolds' teammate, senior fullback Chris Swain, has agreed to terms with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent. 

"I am very excited about the opportunity that the Chargers are giving me and I fully intend to take advantage of it,” said Swain.  “San Diego is a great organization located in a Navy team in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  I can’t think of a better place to be.”

"What a great day for the Navy Football program and the Brotherhood to have Keenan drafted and for Chris to sign as a free agent,” said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.  

Pirates, Polanco agree on long-term deal

The Pirates today announced they have signed outfielder Gregory Polanco to a five-year contract extension (beginning in 2017) with club options for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.  The 24-year-old Polanco spent his first full season in the Majors last year, hitting .256 with nine home runs, 52 RBIs, 35 doubles, six triples and 27 stolen bases in 153 games. He also ranked second among all National League outfielders with 13 assists, trailing only teammate Starling Marte (16).  "We are very pleased to have found a common financial ground with Gregory and his representatives," said Pirates GM Neal Huntington. "This agreement will provide Gregory with incredible financial security and the club with the ability to build around Gregory as one of our core players for years into the future

Pirates sign free agent infielder David Freese

The Pirates today signed infielder David Freese to a one-year contract. Freese, 32, hit .257 with 27 doubles, 14 home runs, 56 RBIs and 53 runs scored in 121 games in 2015 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He became one of four third basemen in the Majors to collect at least 25 doubles for the fourth straight season.  In 2012, Freese was named to the National League All-Star team as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals after hitting .294 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBIs before the break. In 2011, he became just the sixth player ever to take home MVP honors for both the National League Championship Series and World Series while hitting a combined .397 with five home runs and 21 RBIs during St. Louis' postseason run.