Pounding fullbacks Nelson Smith and Jamale Carothers between the tackles has become a winning formula for the Midshipmen, who have found it is an ideal way to wear down the defense and shorten the game.
Smith rushed for a career-high 157 yards and two touchdowns as Navy slipped past East Carolina, 27-23, on a crisp, sunny fall afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Carothers contributed 82 scores and a score for the Mids, who have a two-game winning streak for the first time this season.
Thoses two fullbacks accounted for 239 of 288 rushing yards for Navy (3-2, 3-0), which moved above .