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Junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds is expected to start after missing last week?s 35-21 victory over Texas State with a sore right knee. The injury occurred two weeks ago in a 31-24 win against Temple when a defender?s helmet collided with the back of Reynolds?s knee in the fourth quarter.
Backup Tago Smith took over for Reynolds in that game and made the first start of his career last weekend. Reynolds practiced this week and did not encounter any setbacks after missing a game for the first time since he started playing youth football.
Home cooking
The Midshipmen (2-1) begin a stretch of four out of five games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and are playing their first true home game of the season. Navy served as the host team in Week 1 when it lost to Ohio State, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium, where the crowd comprised predominately Buckeyes supporters.
Navy has won eight in a row in Annapolis, including a 5-0 record last year, for the 10th longest active streak in the country. The last time the Midshipmen lost at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was Sept. 29, 2012, to San Jose State, 12-0. One week later, Reynolds came off the bench to rally Navy past Air Force, 28-21, in overtime and became the starter for good.
Seeing red
Navy?s red-zone defense has been particularly stout this year, ranking 38th in the country, thanks in large part to outside linebacker Chris Johnson. The senior leads the Midshipmen with 23 tackles, including a career-high 11 against Ohio State, and three tackles for losses.
Johnson had not played a varsity snap before last season. He spent his freshman year on junior varsity before catching the eye of longtime defensive coordinator Buddy Green. Johnson was slated to start as a sophomore but missed the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds is expected to start after missing last week?s 35-21 victory over Texas State with a sore right knee. The injury occurred two weeks ago in a 31-24 win against Temple when a defender?s helmet collided with the back of Reynolds?s knee in the fourth quarter.
Backup Tago Smith took over for Reynolds in that game and made the first start of his career last weekend. Reynolds practiced this week and did not encounter any setbacks after missing a game for the first time since he started playing youth football.
Home cooking
The Midshipmen (2-1) begin a stretch of four out of five games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and are playing their first true home game of the season. Navy served as the host team in Week 1 when it lost to Ohio State, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium, where the crowd comprised predominately Buckeyes supporters.
Navy has won eight in a row in Annapolis, including a 5-0 record last year, for the 10th longest active streak in the country. The last time the Midshipmen lost at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was Sept. 29, 2012, to San Jose State, 12-0. One week later, Reynolds came off the bench to rally Navy past Air Force, 28-21, in overtime and became the starter for good.
Seeing red
Navy?s red-zone defense has been particularly stout this year, ranking 38th in the country, thanks in large part to outside linebacker Chris Johnson. The senior leads the Midshipmen with 23 tackles, including a career-high 11 against Ohio State, and three tackles for losses.
Johnson had not played a varsity snap before last season. He spent his freshman year on junior varsity before catching the eye of longtime defensive coordinator Buddy Green. Johnson was slated to start as a sophomore but missed the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
