CHAPEL HILL, NC - True sophomore running back Ray Rice rushed for 201 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to lead Rutgers to a season-opening 21-16 road win over North Carolina at Kenan Stadium today.

It was the second time in Rice's career that he topped the 200-yard mark. Scarlet Knights sophomore quarterback Mike Teel was an efficient 14-of-20 for 145 yards on the day to direct the Scarlet Knight offense. With the exception of a second quarter tie at 7-7, Rutgers led throughout the game and controlled time of possession 33:24 to UNC's 26:36.

Rutgers staved off a late North Carolina drive in the fourth quarter, when cornerback Manny Collins intercepted North Carolina quarterback Joe Dailey's pass with 1:52 remaining at the Scarlet Knights' 21 to secure the victory. It was Collins' second interception of the game.

Rutgers jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its second possession of the game, near the end of the first quarter, when Rice capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive with a two-yard scamper into the end zone, and Jeremy Ito made good on his first extra-point of the season.

North Carolina responded with a long drive of its own, ending with quarterback Joe Dailey's bootleg four-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter to even the score at 7-7.

The Scarlet Knights seemed destined for the end zone again on their next possession, after receiving the ball on their own 15-yard line and moving down field to the Tar Heel nine-yard line. However, NC's Larry Edwards hit Teel as he was throwing, causing a fumble which the Tar Heels recovered on their own 20-yard line.

However, Collins foiled any chance the Tar Heels had of capitalizing on the turnover with his first career interception. He picked off a Dailey pass on the Rutgers 21-yard line to swing the momentum back to the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers rode that momentum all the way to the end zone with an eight-play, 63-yard drive with Rice doing most of the damage on the drive, culminating with his second touchdown of the day. The true sophomore back accounted for all but one yard on the drive pushing, his yardage over the 100-yard mark for the third-straight game, dating back to last season.

North Carolina pulled to within four points on Connor Barth's 47-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, bringing it to 14-10 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.

After the Rutgers defense held North Carolina in check to start the second half, the Scarlet Knight offense took the field and built the lead to 21-10 with an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive. Teel opened the drive with a 16-yard strike to Shawn Tucker who made an acrobatic catch over the middle, and then hit tight end Clark Harris for a 16-yard reception later in the drive. Rice found paydirt once again, with a 10-yard rush up the middle for his career-high third touchdown of the game.

North Carolina threatened to score early in the fourth quarter, but the Rutgers defense rose to the occasion with a key third down stop, setting up a crucial fourth and goal at the one. The Rutgers goal line defense stopped Ronnie McGill at the line of scrimmage and William Beckford stripped the ball from McGill, returning the fumble 14 yards.

North Carolina then pulled to within five points with a two-yard touchdown strike from Dailey to Hakeem Nicks with 5:09 remaining in the game. The Tar Heels attempted a two-point conversion but the RU defense foiled their try as Joe Porter intercepted a Dailey pass.

Rutgers returns home next Saturday (Sept. 9) when the Scarlet Knights host Big Ten foe Illinois in their home opener at Rutgers Stadium at noon.

Team Notes

Rutgers moved to 3-0 all-time vs. North Carolina with its 21-16 win vs. the Tar Heels. Saturday's game marked the first appearance for Rutgers at North Carolina in three meetings vs. UNC.

Rutgers claimed its second season-opening victory on the road since 1988 with its 21-16 victory over North Carolina. The last time the Scarlet Knights opened the season with a road victory was Aug. 30, 2001 at Buffalo with a 31-15 victory.  The victory over Buffalo in 2001 also marked the first victory for RU head coach Greg Schiano.

The Scarlet Knights owned a decided advantage in time of possession in the first half, owning the ball for 19:34, compared to UNC's possession total of 10:26. Rutgers held a 33:24 to 26:36 edge in time of possession for the game.

Player Notes

Sophomore TB Ray Rice collected his second career 200-yard game with 201 yards vs. North Carolina. Rice gained 217 yards in Rutgers win over Connecticut as a true freshman..

It was the third consecutive game that Rice surpassed the 100-yard mark. Rice is the first Rutgers back since Jacki Crooks in 1999 to post three straight 100-yard performances. Crooks had five 100-yard games in a row over the 1998 and 1999 seasons, ending on Sept. 4, 1999.

Rice recorded his first career three-touchdown game for Rutgers. The last RU player to record three rushing TDs in a game was Brian Leonard with three rushing scores at Vanderbilt (10/9/04).

Rice's effort vs. the Tar Heels was the fourth time in his career that he has topped the 150-yard plateau.

The 201-yard performance in a season-opener for Rice was the largest output on opening day for a Scarlet Knight since Dennis Thomas rushed for 177 yards at Buffalo in RU's 31-15 victory on Aug. 30, 2001.

Senior FB Brian Leonard (Gouverneur, N.Y.) moved into third place in BIG EAST history with at least one reception in 35 consecutive games with his reception on the first play of the game offensively for RU. Leonard finished the contest with four  receptions for 20 yards.

Senior TE Clark Harris (Manahawkin, N.J.) moved into a tie for seventh place in BIG EAST history with at least one reception in 30 consecutive games after his reception in the third quarter vs. the Tar Heels.

Seven Scarlet Knights made their collegiate debuts Saturday vs. North Carolina. True freshmen Zaire Kitchen (Highstown, N.J.), LB Ryan D'Imperio (Sewell, N.J.) and George Johnson (Glassboro, N.J.) and Blair Bines (Shirley, NY) along with redshirt freshmen LB Damaso Munoz (Miami, Fla.), WR Dennis Campbell (Plantation, Fla.) and DB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) all saw action for the Scarlet Knights.

Four Scarlet Knights made their first career starts Saturday at North Carolina. WR Dennis Campbell, redshirt freshman CB Jason McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.), junior LB Brandon Renkart (Piscataway, N.J.) and sophomore DE Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, Ontario) were first-time starters for Rutgers.

Campbell hauled in his first career reception on an eight-yard reception for a first down in the second quarter.

Senior CB Manny Collins (Plainfield, N.J.) ended a North Carolina drive in Rutgers' territory in the second quarter with his first career interception. Collins later secured the victory for Rutgers with his second interception of the game with 1:59 left, halting a North Carolina drive at the Rutgers 21.