Rutgers Falls at West Virginia 34-19
Oct 11 | Football
MORGANTOWN, WV - Quincy Wilson ran for three touchdowns to lead West Virginia to a 34-19 victory over Rutgers on Saturday at Mountaineer Stadium.
Wilson had a career-high 40 carries for 177 yards. He scored on runs of 20, 4 and 4 yards.
West Virginia receiver Chris Henry doubled his season output with 176 yards on four catches, including an 83-yard TD. Henry now has 11 catches and four TDs this season and is averaging 30 yards per catch.
West Virginia (2-4, 1-1 Big East) bounced back from a close loss at No. 2 Miami last week to remain unbeaten in 14 home games against Rutgers.
The score remained close until the final play of the half when West Virginia appeared to catch Rutgers off guard.
Rather than run out the clock on fourth down at the West Virginia 17, Rasheed Marshall lofted a pass down the right sideline that a wide open Henry caught at the Rutgers 40 and scored untouched for a 17-3 lead.
Wilson ran for 46 of West Virginia's 48 yards on the Mountaineers' first possession of the second half, capping it with his second TD run.
Rutgers answered with an 80-yard drive, kept alive by a facemask penalty against West Virginia after an incomplete pass on third down. Justice Hairston's 1-yard TD run cut the deficit to 24-10.
Wilson fumbled on the first play of West Virginia's next possession and Rutgers' David Harley recovered at the Mountaineer 10, resulting in a short field goal by Ryan Sands.
But Wilson made up for the mistake on the next possession with his second 4-yard score for a 31-13 lead.
Ryan Hart completed 17-of-28 passes for 188 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Scarlet Knights (3-3, 0-2).
Justise Hairston rushed for 115 yards on 27 carries for Rutgers.
Rutgers 0 3 10 6 19
West Virginia 10 7 7 10 34
Scoring
WESTVIR Q Wilson 20 YD RUN (B Cooper KICK)
WESTVIR B Cooper 27 YD
RUTGERS R Sands 37 YD
WESTVIR C Henry 83 YD PASS FROM R Marshall (B Cooper KICK)
WESTVIR Q Wilson 4 YD RUN (B Cooper KICK)
RUTGERS J Hairston 1 YD RUN (R Sands KICK)
RUTGERS R Sands 22 YD
WESTVIR Q Wilson 4 YD RUN (B Cooper KICK)
RUTGERS B Leonard 11 YD PASS FROM R Hart (TWO-POINT CONVERSION FAILED)
WESTVIR B Cooper 27 YD
Team Statistics Rutgers West Virginia
First downs 18 21
Rushes-Yards 32 - 114 59 - 254
Passing yards 178 187
Sacked-Yards lost 1 - 5 1 - 8
Return yards 6 20
Passes 18 - 29 - 2 7 - 15 - 1
Punts-Average 6 - 39.3 3 - 47.3
Fumbles-Lost 0 - 0 4 - 1
Penalties-Yards 9 - 80 10 - 120
Time of Possession 28:18 31:42
Rutgers at West Virginia – Post-Game Notes
October 11, 2003
Sands Connects on First Field Goal
Senior Ryan Sands connected on a 37-yard field goal for Rutgers’ lone
points in the opening half. The field goal was Sands’ first since he
connected on a 20-yarder in the season opener vs. Buffalo (8/30). The last
time Sands connected on a field goal longer than today’s 37-yarder was
on November 2, 2002 vs. Miami, when he nailed a 38-yard attempt. His career
long, 45 yards, was accomplished vs. Army on 9/14/02.
Johnson Pulls Down INT for Second-Straight Game
With just over three minutes left in the first half, junior safety Jarvis Johnson
intercepted a Rasheed Marshall pass for his second INT in as many games this
season. Johnson registered his first career INT last Saturday vs. Virginia
Tech (10/4), returning it 47 yards for his first career touchdown. The last
RU player to record interceptions in back-to-back games was Shahib White,
who did so vs. Villanova (9/2) and Buffalo (9/9) to open the 2000 season.
TD Reception is Longest of the Season vs. RU
Rasheed Marshall’s 83-yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry at the close
of the first half is the longest gain from scrimmage vs. Rutgers this season,
besting a 76-yard run by Dave Dawson in the season opener vs. Buffalo (8/30).
The previous long pass was a Jeff Smoker-to-Agim Shabaj, 62-yard completion
at Michigan State on 9/6.
Robinson Joins True Freshmen on the Field
Freshman DL Nate Robinson entered the game in the second quarter, seeing his
first action of the season. He is the 10th true freshman to see game action,
as well as the 19th player who saw his first collegiate action thus far in
2003. Last season, Rutgers used 11 true freshman while in 2001, Schiano’s
first season, Rutgers used 14.
Radigan Sets Career High in Second Quarter
Joe Ragidan boomed a 60-yard punt in the second quarter establishing a new
career long. Prior to today’s game, Radigan’s career best was
a 52-yarder at Michigan State on September 6.
Moses, Tucker Continue Streak
Sophomores Tres Moses and Shawn Tucker each caught at least one pass today,
extending the duo’s streak to six games in 2003. Moses has caught at
least three passes in all six games this season while entering today, Tucker
had multiple catches in four of five contests.
Hairston Scoring Streak Continues
Freshman RB Justise Hairston scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter,
registering his seventh rushing TD of the season and RU’s 10th rushing
TD overall. Hairston has now scored six touchdowns in his last three games
(4 vs. Navy, 1 vs. VT, 1 vs. WVU) and is the first RU running back to rush
for seven TD’s in a season since 1993, when Terrell Willis rushed for
13 scores. Rutgers’ 10 rushing touchdowns match the 2000 season total.
