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 Overcoming four lost fumbles, Navy edged San Diego State 17-16 in
the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Tuesday night.
"I have no idea how we won," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said.
The Midshipmen (8-5) won their fourth straight game and consecutive
bowl games for the second time in school history. The Midshipmen
defeated archrival Army 17-10 on Dec. 13.
Junior placekicker Austin Grebe made a 24-yard field goal with 1:27
to play Tuesday for the win.
"I wanted to make it and send the seniors out on a good note," Grebe
said.
San Diego State placekicker Donny Hageman was wide right on 34-yard
field-goal try with 20 seconds remaining. He converted three earlier
attempts.
"They made one more play than we did," San Diego State coach Rocky
Long said. "They made a field goal and we missed one."
Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds rushed for two touchdowns and was
selected the game's offensive most valuable player as the Midshipmen
won for the sixth time in seven games.
 San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey gained a game-high 112
yards on 21 carries. He also set the school's single-season rushing
record at 1,867 yards.
"It's great, but we didn't get the win," Pumphrey said.
The Aztecs turned the ball over three times, and the third proved
decisive. Wide receiver Eric Judge fumbled a reception at the
Midshipmen 37-yard line with 65 seconds remaining. Navy moved 47
yards on 10 plays to set up Grebe's game-winning kick.
The Midshipmen lost their fourth fumble with about 12 minutes
remaining, the ball recovered by linebacker Derek Largent near
midfield. However, San Diego State (7-6) was unable to cash in the
turnover -- the third straight between the teams -- when a
fourth-down pass at Navy's 13-yard line fell incomplete.
"There is always a discussion about that because our field-goal
kicker is good from any spot once we're inside the 30," Long said.
"But honestly, if we didn't scored a touchdown, we would have field
position. We would still win, but he didn't kick (the last attempt)
quite right."
The Aztecs wasted a great opportunity after defensive tackle
Christian Heyward recovered a fumble by Midshipman running back Ryan
Williams-Jenkins in Navy territory. Judge then let a pass from
quarterback Quinn Kaehler go through his hands, and the ball was
intercepted by cornerback George Jamison.
"The defense came up huge for us," Reynolds said. "Hats off to those
guys. If they didn't play as well as they did, we wouldn't have had
a chance."
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The Aztecs forged ahead 16-14 when Hageman kicked his third field
goal, this one from 30 yards, with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
The Aztecs settled for the field goal despite getting the ball on
the Navy 16-yard line after DeBrandon Sanders muffed a punt.
Navy pulled within 14-13 on its first second-half possession, when
Reynolds tumbled into the end zone after a 6-yard run. Fullback
Chris Swain was the key player on the 92-yard, 6:32 drive, producing
58 yards on three carries.
Hageman's second field goal, from 37 yards, pushed San Diego State's
lead to 13-7 midway through the second quarter.
The Aztecs extended their advantage to 10-7 on Hageman's 43-yard
field goal late in the first quarter. San Diego State took
possession on a turnover, an erratic pitch from Reynolds to fullback
Noah Copeland. The ball was recovered by linebacker Cody Galea.
San Diego State tied the score 7-7 on Pumphrey's 5-yard run after a
59-yard kickoff return by Rashaad Penny. Pumphrey reached the end
zone after bouncing off the pile and changing direction to go around
the right side and score untouched, marking his fifth consecutive
game with a touchdown.
Navy scored first, after a Kaehler interception. Kaehler's pass to
wide receiver Mikah Holder ricocheted off him and was snatched by
linebacker Daniel Gonzales.
The Midshipman took over at the San Diego State 42, and 10 plays
later, Reynolds collected his 21st rushing touchdown of the season.
His 1-yard run put Navy ahead, 7-0.
The drive stayed alive when Navy converted a fourth-and 4 at the San
Diego State 36, when running back Geoffrey Whiteside ran for 9
yards.
NOTES: San Diego State is among 27 teams nationally to play in five
consecutive bowl games. ... The Aztecs had only 16 seniors on their
roster. ... San Diego State offensive coordinator Bob Toledo is
retiring after 39 seasons, 18 as a head coach. ... Navy had just 10
days from his final regular-season game against Army before its bowl
game. That is tied for the quickest turnaround in FBS history.
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