Navy over New Mexico in Emerald Bowl, 34-19.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Dennis Georgatos

SAN FRANCISCO _ The drive amounted to a grand game of keep-away, and Navy put it together a few yards at a time.

No play went for more than 10 yards during a 26-play, 94-yard march that lasted 14 minutes, 26 seconds, allowing Navy to seal its 34-19 victory over New Mexico in the Emerald Bowl on a rainy Thursday at SBC Park.

"We made every first down by about an inch," said quarterback Aaron Polanco, the game's offensive MVP who ran for three touchdowns and threw for one.

"That just goes to show what a great job the line did up front. I was just telling them we had to keep the clock going and keep driving it and we'll score. But it's not something you go back to the huddle and say, `I hope we get a 14 {-minute drive so we can finish this game off.'"

Navy (10-2) completed its second 10-win season _ the other was in 1905 _ racking up 269 yards rushing against a defense that had been yielding an average of 93.7. Polanco finished with 136 yards rushing and increased his touchdown total to 16, leading the nation's quarterbacks. He also had two catches off trick plays and threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Corey Dryden.

Strangely enough, the Lobos (7-5) played some of their best defense during Navy's bit-by-bit drive, which ended with Geoff Blumenfeld's 22-yard field goal with 2:15 remaining.