By Trevor Replogle
Annapolis, MD – On a spirited Senior Day in front of over 34,000 fans, it was junior QB Ricky Dobbs that stole the show for the Navy Midshipmen.
Dobbs carried 26 times for 123 yards to lead the Navy running attack. More importantly for Dobbs and the Mids, he was able to find the end zone five times to set a new Naval Academy record for rushing touchdowns.
Dobbs broke the record of former quarterback Chris McCoy who had held the record of 20 TDs since 1997. McCoy was recently honored by being named to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial All-Star team as a quarterback along with Kaipo-Noa Keheaku Enhada and former Heisman Trophy winner, Roger Staubach.
Dobbs scored the record breaking touchdown with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Mids an insurmountable 28-12 lead.
Nearly ten minutes later, Dobbs broke his second school record.
Following a 31-yard completion to Bobby Doyle, Coach Ken Niumatalolo went against his assistant coaches and called Dobbs’ number again on the three yard line. Dobbs powered his way into the end zone and the record books again by scoring his 22nd touchdown of the year. That TD broke the record of most touchdowns scored in a season set by Bill Ingram in 1917.
“The kid is amazing,” said Niumatalolo. “I just wanted it (the record) to be over with.”
The defense wasn’t to be outdone by Dobbs or the Navy offense. Jabaree Tuani and Ross Pospisil led a spirited effort in keeping the Blue Hens out of the end zone.
“I can’t give enough credit to Delaware’s offense,” noted senior defensive captain Pospisil. “I guess we have been living by the bend but don’t break method on defense. That’s both good and bad, but we kept them out of the end zone in the first half.”
The Midshipmen defense held Delaware to four consecutive field goals between the first and third quarters. Two of those field goals came with Delaware inside the Navy ten yard line. One other field goal was forced following a Navy fumble in which Delaware started at the Navy 19.
Penn State transfer, Pat Devlin was able to lead the Delaware offense to their only touchdown with 6:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. Devlin finished the game 17 for 26 with 194 yards passing. He was sacked two times.
The second of those sacks by sophomore defensive end Jabaree Tuani may have been the turning point in the game for the Mids.
Coach Niumatalolo agreed, “It was a huge play. I’d say it was the play of the game. It was a back and forth battle, but that play allowed us to get some breathing room with our offense.”
Delaware was still very much in the game when Tuani sacked Devlin, forced a fumble and recovered it with just over 12 minutes left in the game.
“That’s like scoring a touchdown for an offensive player,” smiled Tuani. “I was just playing for the seniors. It was important for us to win for them, so I was just playing like it was my last game here as well.”
Four plays later Dobbs found the end zone in his first of two record-breaking scores.
After running only 22 plays in the first half, the Midshipmen took over in the second half. The Mids had five possessions and scored four touchdowns – all by Dobbs and all three yards or less.
Navy was happy to avoid the letdown following a big win over Notre Dame and a week off before heading to Hawaii.
“I couldn’t be more excited (for a week off),” remarked Niumatalolo. “We have a chance for the guys to get acclimated in Bancroft Hall and go over what is important there, and they have a chance to get some studying done. Then in two weeks we’re going to the Islands. Personally, I am excited about that.”
Navy wraps up the season with a trip to Hawaii in two weeks followed by the Army-Navy game on December 12. Navy then concludes the season with a trip the Texas Bowl on December 31.
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