Navy erases 20-point deficit to stun Temple

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer

Published 11/02/08

Paul W. Gillespie — The Capital Navy linebacker Clint Sovie races for the end zone after picking up a fumble in the closing minute of regulation against Temple Saturday.

VIDEO

Navy vs Temple

Experience some of the sights and sounds surrounding game day at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

SLIDESHOW

Navy beats Temple

Navy erases a 20-point deficit to stun Temple at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Unbelievable!

That is the only way to describe Navy's miraculous come-from-behind victory over Temple yesterday.

The Midshipmen trailed by 20 points with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and somehow managed to win.

Backup quarterback Ricky Dobbs came off the bench to direct three touchdown drives while linebacker Clint Sovie returned a fumble 42 yards for a score as Navy rallied for an improbable 33-27 victory. It was Senior Day in Annapolis and the Midshipmen celebrated by producing what is believed to be the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in program history.

"I'm speechless....

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Temple Fans Reaching.... - 2008-11-04 13:36:54

I think it is sad that Temple fans need to reach this far to try to justify their team ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The game was a study of the differences between a team that knows how to win and one that does not.

Maybe he is just upset with the knowledge that in one game in December, Navy will put more butts in Temples' home stadium's seats than Temple will cumulatively in 80% of their Home Games this season.

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Mark G. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Disgraceful - 2008-11-03 18:33:59

Awesome and disgraceful at the same time. This is not the way a game should be won.

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Mike G. - Quakertown, PA - Karma: Bad

The PITCH!!! - 2008-11-03 13:36:56

It is very clear that the pitch was made. Dobbs was determined to complete the play, and did just that! Niumatalolo said later that he "THOUGHT" he heard a whistle. That was the comment. Dobbs made that play and it was AWESOME not disgraceful!

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C. Johnson - Douglasville, GA - Karma: Bad

Mike - 2008-11-02 22:41:42

There was a whistle. It was being used by a guy in a white tee shirt with a mustache. He was smiling and high fiving the Navy players after the game, for all I know he could have been a parent. I alerted security to the guy in the third quarter, but they just shrugged their shoulders. It was very loud and the Navy coach said he heard it. It's a disgrace.

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Mike G. - Quakertown, PA - Karma: Bad

Dobbs TD pitch to Kettani - 2008-11-02 16:10:21

My family and I were in the 2nd row seats at the 10 yard line on the visitor's side (section 31). We had completely unobstructed views of all the action in the 4th quarter and OT. The pitch from Dobbs to Kettani on 4th and goal was totally clean. Dobbs was definitely wrapped up, but not in enough time to be whistled for forward progress. Nobody around us heard a whistle, anyway. And we were a lot closer than any of Temple's coaching staff. What an awesome play!

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Chip Downs - Sudlersville, MD - Karma: Bad