Navy's Dobbs Sets NCAA Mark In Win Over Red Wolves
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Ricky Dobbs couldn't have done much better in his home finale as Navy's quarterback.
The senior ran for three touchdowns, setting an NCAA record in the process, and passed for another to lead Navy to a 35-19 win over Arkansas State on Saturday.
He celebrated Senior Day with touchdown runs of 1, 1 and 3 yards that gave him 40 over the last two seasons, a record for running TDs 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.
"That game, for me, epitomizes Ricky," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "I am upset with him because he missed some reads and there were some things he could have done better, but then you look at it and overall, in the end, you realize that you don't appreciate all he does. When you think of all the things he has done in this game, in his career, it is really remarkable.
Dobbs also completed 8 of 9 passes for 164 yards. His biggest pass was an 85-yarder to a wide-open Greg Jones which put Navy ahead 21-3 with just 2:27 gone in the second quarter.
"They had an ineligible receiver, he went in motion, they threw to the guy who was originally ineligible. We don't cover ineligible receivers," Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts said.
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 win assured the Midshipmen (8-3) of their eighth straight eight-win season and left them with a shot at back-to-back 10-win seasons. They play Army on Dec. 11 and have already committed to the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23.
The win assured the Midshipmen (8-3) of their eighth straight eight-win season and left them with a shot at back-to-back 10-win seasons. They play Army on Dec. 11 and have already committed to the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23.
"It was real nice, we came out on fire. It meant a lot," Dobbs said. "We definitely wanted to end things on a positive note."
Navy's 23 graduating seniors have a record of 34-17.
"I am very happy that we could send our seniors out with a victory," Niumatalolo said. "These seniors have meant so much to this school and to this program."
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 over six 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 Mids since 2006.
Aplin, who set a school record for total yards passing, 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.
"My hat's off to their quarterback, he made some great reads," ASU defensive lineman Bryan Hall said. "That's the biggest thing about the triple option, you got to make reads and he did a good job of executing it."
