WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 23, 2009) – Rutgers sophomore running back Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) carried 25 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns as the Scarlet Knights defeated Army 27-10 on a rain-soaked Friday evening at Blaik Field at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.
Senior wide receiver Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) led RU through the air, catching four passes for 101 yards. It was his seventh 100-yard receiving game, tying him for second in school history. Brown also cracked the top-10 in the all-time record books with 1,756 career receiving yards.
Army scored on its opening drive of the game for its only lead of the contest, going ahead 3-0 on a 41-yard field goal. The Black Knights went 45 yards on the drive in 4:20.
The Scarlet Knights answered the three-point deficit with 17-straight points on a pair of touchdowns and field goal. RU scored an offensive touchdown on its first drive of the game, marking the first time since the Labor Day contest against Cincinnati that Rutgers found pay dirt on its opening possession.
Junior safety Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) broke off a 35-yard return on RU’s first offensive possession, beginning the drive near midfield at the Rutgers 46-yard line. Facing third-and-14, freshman quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) connected on a 32-yard pass to fellow true freshman Mark Harrison (Stratford, Conn.) to extend the drive.
Rutgers then traveled the rest of the way on four plays, including three carries by Martinek, who capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown to make it 7-3.
After a stalled Army possession, the Scarlet Knights traveled 56 yards on five plays, highlighted by a 48-yard reception from Savage to Brown. Sophomore placekicker San San Te (Conover, N.C.) split the uprights from 27 yards out to increased the lead to 10-3.
The special teams unit provided the Scarlet Knights’ next score for a 14-point advantage (17-3) as true freshman Steve Beauharnais (Saddle Brook, N.J.) blocked an Army punt and recovered the fumble, taking it 11 yards to the end zone. It was RU’s fifth special teams/defensive touchdown of the season and second blocked punt in as many games as senior cornerback Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) blocked a kick the previous week against Pittsburgh.
Army inched closer in the early minutes of the third quarter, closing the gap to seven points (17-10) with a 17-yard touchdown carry by Lonnie Liggins. However, the Scarlet Knights quickly responded on the very next drive, going 37 yards and capping it with a 41-yard successful field goal by Te to pull ahead 20-10.
Rutgers’ third fumble recovery of the game led to the squad’s next score as redshirt-freshman Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.) picked up a loose ball in Army territory. The Scarlet Knights then traveled 37 yards on three plays in 1:03, highlighted by 28-yard reception from Savage to junior tight end Shamar Graves (Woodbridge, N.J.). Martinek ended the drive with a six-yard scamper into the end zone for a 27-10 score.
The Scarlet Knights will play the second of back-to-back road games, and return to BIG EAST action when they travel to East Hartford for a 12 noon game at Connecticut.
Team Notes
Rutgers moved to 5-2 on the season with its 27-10 victory over Army Friday night at Michie Stadium.
With the 27-10 victory over Army, Rutgers posted its sixth-straight win over the Black Knights. It is the longest in series history.
RU has outscored the Black Knights 185-55 during the winning streak.
RU also evened the series at 18-18 with the win. RU has won nine of the last 11 meetings.
Rutgers has won nine consecutive games vs. teams from the State of New York. During the nine-game win streak, the Scarlet Knights have outscored the Empire State opponents 295-72.
The Rutgers defense finished the Army game +3 (three fumbles, one blocked punt) in the turnover differential column. The Scarlet Knights are +23 over the last 14 games. RU has gained 21 turnovers this season, including at least one in every game. In total Rutgers has gained a turnover in 13 straight games. In 2009, Rutgers is +15 in turnover differential (21 turnovers, 6 giveaways). Over the last 14 games, Rutgers has gained a total of 38.
With a second-quarter blocked punt returned for an 11-yard touchdown by true freshman LB Steve Beauharnais (Saddle Brook, N.J.) the Scarlet Knights recorded their fifth special teams/defensive touchdown this season.
Rutgers has registered a non-offensive touchdown three-straight years against Army with all three occurring in the first quarter of the game. Beauharnais’ TD was the second punt block returned for a TD in the stretch as DB Colin McEvoy (Hillsdale, N.J.) returned a 17-yard blocked punt for a touchdown at Army in 2007. Last season, DB Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown against the Black Knights.
It is also the second blocked punt for the Scarlet Knights in as many weeks – senior CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) blocked a punt last Friday against Pitt.
Rutgers orchestrated an eight-play 54-yard touchdown drive on its opening drive of the contest. It was the first time since the season opener against Cincinnati the Scarlet Knights scored a TD on their opening offensive possession of the game. RU scored on a four-yard touchdown on its first possession of the game.
With a touchdown and a field goal on its first and second possessions, respectively, the Scarlet Knights scored on its first two possessions for the first time since Dec. 4, 2008 against Louisville when RU scored a pair of touchdowns against the Cardinals.
Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) became just the second true freshman signal-caller in school history to win a road game. It was Savage’s first road start of his young career. The Springfield, Pa. native went 10-of-20 for 164 yards, including a long of 48 yards. Ryan Cubit won his first road game in his first career start at Buffalo in 2001 (Greg Schiano’s first game as coach at RU).
The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-2 all-time in Friday night games on the ESPN/ESPN2. RU has played two Friday games this season with one more remaining on the schedule.
Friday Night Football
Date Opponent Result Network
10-23-09 at Army W, 27-10 ESPN2
10-16-09 Pitt L, 24-17 ESPN
11-9-07 at Army W, 41-6 ESPN2
9-7-07 Navy W, 41-24 ESPN
9-29-06 at USF W, 22-20 ESPN2
11-11-05 at Louisville L, 56-5 ESPN2
9-30-05 Pitt W, 37-29 ESPN2
Since the start of the 2005 season, Rutgers is now 6-2 on the road vs. non-conference opponents. The Scarlet Knights have averaged over 200 rushing yards per game. RU has had a running back rush for over 100 yards in seven of the eight games since 2005.
Player
Senior WR Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) finished the Army game with four catches for 101 yards to move into the top-10 in school history in career receiving yards with 1,756 career receiving yards on 91 career receptions.
Brown recorded the seventh 100-yard receiving game of his career, tying him for second in school history with Tres Moses (2001-05) and Marco Battaglia (1992-95).
Sophomore RB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) matched his career-high in rushing touchdowns for the third time this season and fourth time in his career. He scored on runs of four and six yards. Martinek also had a pair of rushing touchdowns against Maryland and Texas Southern this season and at USF on Nov. 15 of last season.
True freshman WR Mark Harrison (Stratford, Conn.) recorded his first career receptions in the Army Contest. He finished the game with two catches for 48 yards.
Sophomore PK San San Te (Conover, N.C.) had two field goals to give him 23 for his career and move him into a tie with Ryan Sands (2001-04) for eighth place on the Rutgers career field goals made list.
Redshirt freshman Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.) and sophomore Desmond Stapleton (Union, N.J.) became the 15th and 16th Scarlet Knights to record their first career start this season. Greene started in place of LB Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) as RU opened with five defensive backs in the starting lineup and Stapleton started in place of left tackle Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.). He opened at right tackle and right tackle Kevin Haslam (Mahwah, N.J.) moved over to left tackle.
Junior DE Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) recovered his third fumble in the last four games, scooping up a loose ball in the third quarter against Army. He also recovered fumbles against Maryland (Sept. 26) and Texas Southern (Oct. 10).
With two catches tonight, true freshman WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) has at least one reception in all six games this season.
