PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 15 Rutgers registered its biggest win in school history and kept its unbeaten streak alive, stunning No. 3 Louisville, 28-25 before a record crowd of 44,111 at Rutgers Stadium. The prime-time victory in front of a nationally-televised audience was the first over a ranked opponent by the Scarlet Knights since 1988.
Rutgers is just one of four undefeated teams remaining in college football- No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Michigan and No. 14 Boise State are the others.
On his second attempt, junior placekicker Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) kicked a 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining in the game to push the Scarlet Knights to their ninth victory of the season. The nine wins are the most for a Rutgers team since the 1978 campaign.
Rutgers erased an 18-point deficit and began its game-winning drive on its own nine-yard line with 5:28 left in the fourth quarter. Slowly but surely, the offensive moved up the field. Fullback Brian Leonard (Gouverneur, N.Y.) kept his reception streak of consecutive games alive - 43 games - catching a pass in the flats to move the Scarlet Knights into Louisville territory.
Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) rambled for runs of 20, four and two yards to move RU into field goal range. Ito had his first attempt - a 33-yarder - with 17 seconds showing pull wide left. He converted the winning opportunity following a Louisville offside penalty.
"Tonight, showed how hard work pays off," said Rice. "No one quit or got down on ourselves. There were no frowns on our bench, when things weren't going our way. We just kept chopping."
The Scarlet Knights defense was nothing short of spectacular in the second half, forcing the Louisville offense into five three-and-outs on six possessions. They limited Cardinals quarterback Brian Brohm, averaging 270.5 passing yards a game, to just 163 yards. It was the junior's lowest passing output of the season.
Louisville jumped out to a 15-7 lead following a 100-yard kickoff return from JaJua Spillman. The Cardinals tacked on a five-yard strike from Brohm and a field goal to push ahead, 25-7.
"I told our kids at halftime (trailing 25-14) that we were playing well, we just had to get some plays and mix it up," said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. "Our guys did a great job of adjusting in the second half. It takes smart and committed kids to make those changes."
Kenny Britt leaped to snag a pass over the middle and erupt for 67 yards. He was stripped of the ball but recovered at the four-yard line. Rice scored his second rushing touchdown of the evening, pulling Rutgers to three (25-22).
Ito connected on a 46-yard attempt with 10:13 showing in the fourth quarter to knot the game. The kick was the 47th of his career as Ito moved into first place in the RU record book.
The win was the largest come-from-behind victory since Oct. 9, 2004 when the Scarlet Knights overcame a 24-point differential at Vanderbilt.
Rutgers returns to action next Saturday at Cincinnati. A kickoff time has yet to be announced.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
Rutgers is one of only four remaining unbeaten teams.
The 28-25 victory over #3 Louisville is the first over a ranked opponent since 1988 (Sept. 24, Penn State, 21-16 in Happy Valley).
It marks the latest point in a season, the Scarlet Knights have been alone in first place in BIG EAST history. The victory is the first 4-0 start ever in BIG EAST play for Rutgers.
The win moves Rutgers to its first nine win season since 1978. The nine win season marks just the fifth such campaign in 137 seasons of football.
The win is the largest comeback since Oct. 9, 2004 (27-3 come-from-behind against Vanderbilt in Nashville).
Rutgers now has six wins over ranked teams in program history. Previously, the highest ranked team the Scarlet Knights upset was Penn State -13th in the UPI rankings. The Scarlet Knights tied then- No. 3 Florida in 1985
The sellout crowd of 44,111 is a new Rutgers Stadium record, surpassing the previous high of 42,612 set on Sept. 4, 2004 against Michigan State.
The first-quarter interception by LB Devraun Thompson (Piscataway, N.J.) gives the Rutgers defense at least one interception in seven of its nine games this season.
Louisville's first touchdown of the game marked only the third time this season (first quarter against Ohio) and beginning of second half against USF) the Scarlet Knights were behind on the scoreboard.
Rutgers dominated the second half, forcing the Cardinals to punt on seven of the last eight possessions of the game. The final possession ended with a sack by Rutgers LB Devraun Thompson (Picataway, N.J.).
Louisville is only the second team this season (Ohio) to score a touchdown against Rutgers in the first quarter.
Tonight marked the first time the Scarlet Knights played at home at Rutgers Stadium as a ranked team.
The 163 yards from Louisville QB Brian Brohm were his lowest output of the season. His previous season low was 181 yards against Miami (left game early due to injury). Prior to the contest, he was averaging 265.8 all-purpose yards per game on the season.
Player Notes
Junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) avenged his only career loss, improving to 11-1 as a starter for the Scarlet Knights. Teel finished with 189 total yards.
Junior K Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) established a new Rutgers career record for field goals, connecting on a 46-yard attempt in the fourth quarter to give him 47 for his career. He passed Kennan Startzell (1976-79) who finished his career with 46 career field goals. He made it 48 field goals, drilling the game-winner from 28 yards with 13 seconds remaining in the game.
Sophomore RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) recorded a pair of rushing touchdowns to give him 15 for the season. He moves into a tie with Bill Austin (1958) for fourth place on the Rutgers single-season rushing touchdown list. Rice has recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in five of RU's nine games this season. He has registered two or more touchdowns in a game in seven contests this season.
Rice's rushing total of 131 yards tonight moved him into second place on the Rutgers single-season rushing yardage list. He sits just 19 yards behind the all-time single-season leader of "JJ' Jennings (1,353 yards in the 1973 season).
Senior LB Devraun Thompson's (Piscataway, N.J.) interception of Brian Brohm in the first quarter was Thompson's third career interception.
Freshman RB Kordell Young (Westville, N.J.) recorded his first career reception in the first quarter, taking the ball 39 yards into Louisville territory. He finishes the contest with two catches for 41 yards.
The 67-yard pass from QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) to WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) in the third quarter is a career long for both players.
Freshman WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) set new career highs in catches (2) and yards (82).
Senior FB Brian Leonard (Gouverneur, N.Y.) kept his reception streak alive. The senior has recorded at least one catch in all 43 games he has played during his career, already tops in BIG EAST history. Leonard did not record his one lone reception (26 yards) until late in the fourth quarter.
TE Clark Harris (Manahawkin, N.J.) saw his reception record come to a halt. Previously, he had caught at least one reception in 38 straight games.
Rutgers-Louisville Photo Gallery
