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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Williams leads surging Dolphins

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – He may be 32, but Ricky Williams is far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the once written-off Miami Dolphins are back in the playoff picture.

Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 Thursday night for their fourth win in six games.

A day after learning Brown is lost for the season, the Dolphins (5-5) continued their surge behind Williams following a 0-3 start.

The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that included a couple of lost seasons.

It was enough to beat the Panthers (4-6) when Jake Delhomme’s desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards, but Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped, then couldn’t lead a late comeback bid.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano hinted his team might abandon the wildcat offense without Brown, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a foot injury. Miami didn’t use the formation until the second quarter. It coincided with the Dolphins’ first touchdown drive – Chad Henne’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who wrestled the ball away from linebacker Na’il Diggs.

Miami took a 14-3 halftime lead when Williams took the direct snap at the 1 and got to the end zone ahead of speedy linebacker Jon Beason.