Nov. 1, 2008

Box Score |  AP Action Photos 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -Navy rallied from a 20-point deficit in the final 14 minutes, then used a 1-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Ricky Dobbs in the first overtime to defeat mistake-prone Temple 33-27 Saturday.

Dobbs threw for one score and ran for another to help Navy (6-3) become bowl eligible. The Midshipmen intend to play in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in the nation's capital on Dec. 20.

Two critical miscues cost Temple (3-6). Navy scored the tying touchdown on the return of a fumble by Owls running back Kee-ayre Griffin with 37 seconds left, and Temple tight end Steve Maneri dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone during overtime.

The loss ruined a fine day by Adam DiMichele, who went 21-for-28 for a career-high 340 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of 49-yarders to Bruce Francis.

Ranked 118th in the nation in total offense, Temple amassed 409 yards. But it wasn't enough.

Navy trailed 27-7 with 13:41 left before mounting a stunning comeback behind Dobbs, who replaced injured starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada with five minutes left in the third quarter.

First, Dobbs threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Thiel with 9:16 left. Then, after a Temple punt, Eric Kettani capped a 64-yard drive with a 1-yard, fourth-down touchdown run with 2:52 to go. The conversion was blocked, keeping the score 27-20.

Navy decided against an onside kick, and Temple appeared to have held on after making a first down. But on third down with less than a minute left, Griffin tried to squeeze some extra yardage out of a meaningless play designed to eat up the clock.

Big mistake. Navy linebacker Ross Pospisil pried the ball loose and teammate Clint Sovie took it 42 yards for a touchdown. Matt Harmon's extra point was good, setting up overtime.

After a first half that ended tied at 7, the Owls took the second-half kickoff and went ahead when Francis slipped behind Ketric Buffin before making a diving catch in the end zone.

Later in the third quarter, DiMichele faked a dive on a third-and-2, dropped back and connected with a wide-open Francis for another 49-yard touchdown. On Temple's next possession, Griffin scored on a 16-yard run.

Then the Midshipmen began their comeback.

Navy opened the game with a 79-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Kettani carried five times for 49 yards, converting a fourth-and-1 along the way, before Kaheaku-Enhada ran it in from the 2.

It was the ninth time in nine games the Midshipmen scored on their first possession.

DiMichele then went 5-for-5 for 69 yards during a 74-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Maneri.

The back-and-forth flurry ended there.