Tulane Greenwave topped by Navy Midshipmen 17-35 Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003 Boxscore ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Ticker) -- Navy could ride its potent ground attack to a bowl game. Quarterback Craig Candeto rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and fullback Kyle Eckel added 120 yards as the Midshipmen became bowl eligible with a 35-17 triumph over slumping Tulane. Navy (6-3) bounced back from last week's home loss to Division I-AA Delaware for its fifth win against a Division I-A foe. With just three wins in the previous three seasons, the Midshipmen also will count a season-opening victory over VMI as they seek their first bowl appearance since 1996. The nation's top rushing offense piled up 357 yards on the ground against a Tulane defense that ranks 115th against the run. Candeto led the attack, carrying just 18 times and scoring on keepers of one and 28 yards in the first quarter and eight yards in the third. A four-yard touchdown run by freshman Trey Hines extended Navy's lead to 21-7 in the second quarter, but Barrett Pepper kicked a 41-yard field goal for Tulane on the final play of the first half. The Midshipmen pulled away in the third period as Frank Divis and Candeto scored from eight yards to make it 35-10. Candeto completed just 2-of-7 passes for 57 yards with an interception. J.P. Losman was 25-of-38 for 198 yards and a touchdown but was sacked twice and threw a pair of interceptions for the Green Wave (3-6), who have lost five straight. Tulane had won the previous three meetings with Navy.