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.

“It was coming sooner or later,” Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel said of Rice’s record. “He deserves everything he’s got, including the record. He is a tremendous football player, the heart and soul of the offense.”

Rice scored on runs of four and two yards and caught his first touchdown pass on a 22-yard catch and run from Teel late in the first half.

Rice surpassed Terrell Willis’ old rushing record of 3,114 with a 19-yard run on his second carry and put the game away with his short TD run on his 37th and final rush of the night.