ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Ricky Dobbs ran for three touchdowns, setting an NCAA record in the process, and passed for another to lead Navy to a 35-19 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday.
The senior quarterback celebrated senior day with touchdown runs of 1, 1 and 3 yards that gave him 40 over the past two seasons, a record for running touchdowns by a quarterback in successive seasons. He has 48 rushing touchdowns in his career, fifth all-time for quarterbacks. He gained 154 yards on 31 carries against the Red Wolves.
Dobbs also completed 8 of 9 passes for 164 yards. His biggest pass was an 85-yarder to Greg Jones that put Navy ahead 21-3 with 12:55 left in the second quarter.
Navy rushed for 301 yards and had 465 yards of total offense. Jones had four catches for 129 yards and Alexander Teich had 12 carries for 86 yards.
The victory assured the Midshipmen (8-3) of their eighth consecutive eight-victory season and left them with a shot at back-to-back 10-victory seasons. They play Army on Dec. 11 and have already committed to the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23.
Navy’s 23 graduating seniors have a record of 34-17.
Arkansas State (4-7) was held to under 24 points for the first time this season, even though a 5-yard pass from Ryan Aplin to Allen Muse closed the gap to 28-19 with 8:41 to play.
Navy responded with a 65-yard drive that lasted oversix minutes and ended with Dobbs’ third touchdown.
Trav’es Bush intercepted a pass and returned it to the 9 late in the game and Billy Yarbrough had three sacks - the most for the Midshipmen since 2006.
Aplin completed 22 of 30 passes for 178 yards and scored on a 7-yard run, and Muse had eight catches for 69 yards. Aplin also scored on a 7-yard run, and Jermaine Robertson rushed for 92 yards.
Aplin’s 1-yard completion to senior wide receiver Anthony Robinson in the third quarter broke the school record for passing yards in a single season. Aplin finished the game with a total of 2,813 career yards. The previous mark was set by Cleo Lemon, who threw for 2,721 yards in 1998.
Sophomore Taylor Stockemer had four catches for 59 yards, including a 19-yard reception, ASU’s longest of the game. Freshman Sirgregory Thornton added 46 rushing yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety M.D. Jennings led the Red Wolves with 11 tackles, seven unassisted. Senior linebacker Javon McKinnon had eight tackles.
The Red Wolves will complete the regular season next Saturday at Florida International. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Comcast Sports Southeast.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 27, WESTERN KENTUCKY 26
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Rod Issac returned a fumble 99 yards to key Middle Tennessee’s second-half comeback and the Blue Raiders defeated Western Kentucky.
Middle Tennessee (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) scored the final 17 points , taking the lead on Benjamin Cunningham’s 6-yard run and Alan Gendreau’s extra point with 4:38 left.
Western Kentucky’s Bobby Rainey had career highs with 45 carries and 248yards. He scored two touchdowns.
Issac, a defensive back, cut Western Kentucky’s lead to 26-20 when he scooped up a fumbled snap and returned it 99 yards for the score with 10:27 remaining.
Casey Tinius’ 34-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing possession was blocked to preserve the victory.
The Hilltoppers (2-9, 2-5) were winless at home for the second consecutive year and have not won a home game since Sept. 20, 2008.
LOUISIANA-MONROE 49, NORTH TEXAS 37
MONROE, La. - Redshirt freshman quarterback Kolton Browning threw five touchdown passes and Louisiana-Monroe beat North Texas .
Browning completed 18 of 23 passes for 247 yards and rushed for 73 yards. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Warhawks (5-6, 4-3), who have won five of the past six games in the series and three in a row.
Louisiana-Monroe can become bowl eligible with a victory against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 38, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 17
LAFAYETTE, La. - Darriet Perry scored three second-half touchdowns and Florida International added a defensive score late in the third quarter en route to a victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Golden Panthers (5-5, 5-1) remained in first place in the Sun Belt Conference and can clinch their first conference title with a victory in one of their remaining two games.
Sports, Pages 33 on 11/21/2010