Rutgers beats Navy

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Ray Rice became the career rushing leader at No. 15 Rutgers, and still had to share the spotlight with his defense.

Rice rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Scarlet Knights defense intercepted three passes and made a big fourth-quarter stand to hold off stubborn Navy 41-24 on Friday night.

Rice scored on runs of 4 and 2 yards and caught his first touchdown pass on a 22-yard catch and run from Mike Teel late in the first half. He has gained 3,273 yards rushing in his career, breaking the school record of 3,114 set by Terrell Willis (1993-95).

Teel, who was 14 of 19 for 266 yards, also threw a 12-yard TD pass to Shamar Graves and clinched the game with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt with 9:05 to play.

Jeremy Ito kicked field goals of 28 and 20 yards as the Scarlet Knights (2-0) won their ninth straight game at home.

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Campbell and scored on a 2-yard run, but he became the first Navy quarterback in 10 years to be intercepted three times in a game.

Each pick was costly for the Midshipmen (1-1).

George Johnson got the first interception at the Navy 24 in the first quarter with Rutgers ahead 7-0. It set up Rice’s first touchdown.

With Navy down 17-7 late in the first half, Kaheaku-Enhada, who had only thrown one interception in his last 56 attempts, drove the Middies to the Rutgers 4. On a second-and-goal, linebacker Damaso Munoz put pressure on the quarterback and he threw the ball to Rutgers safety Ron Girault in the end zone.

Rutgers went 80 yards on the ensuing possession and opened a 24-7 lead when Rice scored on the screen with 34 seconds left in the half.

Kaheaku-Enhada completed 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards.

Rutgers followed the last pick with a 15-play drive that Ito capped with his 20-yarder for a 27-14 lead.