Army vs. Navy 2014: Breaking Down Stars That Will Shine in Renowned Rivalry Game

The Army-Navy Game has been one of the most beloved college football rivalries since its inception in 1890, and the 2014 edition promises to continue the tradition of passion and dedication.

Navy hasn't lost this game since 2001, and the Midshipmen are once again expected to beat the Black Knights, but there are few guarantees in this series. Perhaps the only one is that both teams will leave everything out on field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Navy and Army are very similar teams in terms of their respective approaches on both sides of the ball, so Saturday's clash should be an intriguing chess match.

While the Midshipmen and Black Knights rely heavily on overall team play, here is a closer look at a few players who will stand out from the crowd in the Army-Navy Game.

Keenan Reynolds

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Although Navy has less than 1,000 passing yards as a team this season, all eyes are usually on junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds. He has mastered the option attack, and there is no doubt that Army will see a heavy dose of him on the ground.

Reynolds enters the game with 1,082 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. As incredible as that may seem, it's actually a huge drop-off from last season, when he found paydirt 31 times with his legs.

For his career, Reynolds has a remarkable 61 rushing touchdowns. According to Navy Athletics on Twitter, that is an all-time NCAA record for a quarterback:

Making history is something that Reynolds has grown quite accustomed to. In a 52-19 romp over Georgia Southern a few weeks ago, he ran for 277 yards and six touchdowns, which matched a single-game record, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Part of what makes Reynolds so dangerous is the threat of handing the ball off to fullback Noah Copeland, who averages over eight yards per carry. He also has the option of utilizing bruiser Chris Swain, so opposing defenses have to pick their poison.

Reynolds has topped 100 yards rushing in five games this season, and he seems like a solid bet to do it against Army as well.

Larry Dixon

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Army relies heavily on the running game, just like Navy, but the Black Knights' main offensive star is fullback Larry Dixon. The compact senior is in the midst of his best collegiate season, having topped 1,000 yards for the first time and scoring a career-high nine touchdowns.

Few players put in a more consistent effort than Dixon, which is why he is one of the leading rushers in the history of the program, according to Army Football on Twitter:

While Dixon will long be remembered as an all-time great at Army regardless of what happens Saturday, beating Navy is the one thing he desperately wants to accomplish.

The Black Knights nearly did that two years ago, but a late fumble by Dixon allowed the Midshipmen to close out a 17-13 victory. Per Tom Pedulla of The New York Times, that miscue has stuck with Dixon.

"I'll never forget it," Dixon said. "It's always going to be in the back of my mind. But I try not to take it with me on the field."

Dixon is a motivated player no matter the situation, but the memory of that mistake could very well light an even bigger fire under him Saturday. If it does, then Army has a fighting chance to pull off the upset.

Parrish Gaines

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Strong, fundamentally sound defensive play is always important in the Army-Navy Game, which is why Midshipmen senior safety Parrish Gaines promises to play a huge role in Saturday's clash.

Gaines is the defense's leader in every conceivable way, and he is enjoying a spectacular campaign. He has three interceptions to his credit, and while that may not come into play against a run-heavy team like Army, he is a sure-handed tackler as well.

There are many Gaines supporters out there but perhaps none greater than Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo, according to Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette.

"

I couldn't be more proud of Parrish. He's worked hard academically, been a model citizen in the hall and an outstanding football player. Parrish has played in a ton of ball games and never flinched on the field. Along the way, he's been a tremendous leader—always exhibiting great character and behavior. He really exemplifies what this place is all about—honor, courage and integrity.

"

The qualities Niumatalolo mentioned will be hugely important in the Army-Navy Game. Gaines has them in spades, and he will do everything possible to set an example for this teammates.

Provided they follow his lead, the Midshipmen will be very tough to beat.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.