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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:43 p.m., Saturday, October 25, 2008

CFB: Dobbs runs for 224 yards to lead Navy over SMU

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs (4) eludes SMU's' Tyler Jones during the first half.

ROB CARR | Associated Press

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Ricky Dobbs ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries as Navy became the first major college team in 11 years to not attempt a pass in its 34-7 victory against SMU today.

Navy, fourth in the nation in rushing coming in at 296 per game, ran 77 times for 404 yards. The last team to play a game without throwing a pass was Ohio University in a 21-17 victory against Akron on Oct. 25, 1997.

The game was played in a downpour, and the second half was played before a crowd of just several thousand.

Dobbs, a third-string quarterback, replaced Jarod Bryant, who injured his right shoulder on a 20-yard run in the first quarter, and quickly directed the Midshipmen (5-3) to two touchdowns on runs of 2 and 5 yards. He carried the ball on his first eight plays.

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo reinserted Bryant early in the second quarter, but he was hurt again six plays later.

Dobbs returned and two plays later ran for 38 yards, and scored from a yard out on the next play. He added a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada began the season as the Mids' quarterback, but aggravated a hamstring injury in a win over Wake Forest on Sept. 27 and was replaced by Bryant.

Navy, which became the second major college team to play 1,200 games, can qualify for the Eagle Bowl in Washington on Dec. 20 with one more win.

SMU (1-8), which began the game 11th in the nation in passing, averaging 302 yards per game, was held to 144 yards — 27 in the second half — and trailed 27-0 at halftime.

Bo Levi Mitchell, the Mustangs' freshman quarterback, had a pass intercepted by the Mids' Jeff Deliz in the first half. He's had 19 passes picked — most in the nation. Mitchell, who threw four touchdown passes in each of his last two games, was 16-for-28 for 157 yards.

SMU scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Aldrick Robinson with 5:25 to play in the third quarter. Robinson, who entered the game leading the nation in receiving yards, had seven catches for 94 yards. It was his 11th touchdown reception this season, tying Emanuel Tolbert's school record set in 1978 for most in a season.

Navy's Shun White scored on a 23-yard run early in the first quarter. It followed a 14-yard punt by the Mustang's Thomas Morstead. The touchdown gave White more than 2,000 yards in his career — the eighth player in school history to reach 2,000.