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Rice breaks school record, Rutgers downs Navy

Sep 8, 2007 - 4:40 AM PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Ray Rice had more than one reason to keep this game ball.

Rice compiled 215 total yards, scored three touchdowns and broke the school record for career rushing yards as No. 15 Rutgers cruised to a 41-24 triumph over Navy on Friday night.

Rice rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries and added a 22-yard receiving score. The junior tailback has amassed 3,274 rushing yards in his collegiate career, which breaks Rutgers' all-time record formerly held by Terrell Willis (3,114).

"It's one of (those) lifetime achievements," Rice said. "I never really cared about my individual awards, but this one means a lot, because it's here at Rutgers University. It's something I can share here at Rutgers with my whole team, my whole family and everybody that helped me get it."

"Ray is a great player," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano added. "He's certainly doing his part."

A contender for this year's Heisman Trophy, Rice plowed into the end zone from 4 yards out to give the Scarlet Knights an early 14-0 lead in the opening quarter.

"It certainly helps when you can score against that (Navy) offense," Schiano said. "When they get clicking, you can see the tempo picking up. So to get ahead of them certainly helps."

He added another rushing score in the fourth quarter, taking a 2-yard run into the end zone on 4th-and-1 as Rutgers (2-0) took a 41-17 advantage.

The Rutgers' defense yielded 254 rushing yards but came through with big plays at important times.

After throwing just one interception in 48 attempts last season, Midshipmen quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was picked off three times by the Scarlet Knights - twice in their own end zone.

"The two interceptions in the end zone were huge plays," Schiano said. "Anytime you look at a football game, there are plays like that and that's what decides games."

Trailing, 24-7, at the half, Navy (1-1) appeared to be on its way to getting back in the game. On the opening drive of the second half, the Midshipmen drove down the field and set up a 2-yard rushing score by Kaheaku-Enhada.

After Ketric Buffin's interception gave Navy great field position, Kaheaku-Enhada's pass was picked off by free safety Courtney Greene in the end zone.

"The turnover got our offense the ball back and as you can see, they went right down the field and got points off it," Greene said. "That's how our team works. We feed off each other and we're getting better each week."

"The thing that turned it was the (second end zone) interception," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "If we put that one in the end zone and make it 24-21, now we got a game and maybe (Rutgers) panics a little."

Rice then helped Rutgers grind out a 14-play drive that took 8:35 off the clock and ended with a 20-yard field goal by Jeremy Ito, extending its advantage to 27-14. Rice carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards on the drive.

The Scarlet Knights sealed the victory in the fourth quarter when Mike Teel connected with Kenny Britt on a 53-yard touchdown strike to open the lead to 34-17 with 8:05 left in the game.

"I was calling (for) that play for a while," Teel said. "I was telling coach their corners were just sitting on the routes. It was a great time by coach calling it and we were able to connect."

Teel completed 14-of-19 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.