SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Rutgers football team (3-2, 1-1 BIG EAST) scored 38 unanswered points to erase a 14-point deficit as the Scarlet Knights defeated Syracuse (1-6, 1-2 BIG EAST), 38-14, Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome in the first road game of the 2007 season.
The Orange got off to a quick start, scoring on their first two offensive possessions to take a 14-0 lead. Syracuse began its opening drive on the Rutgers 21 yard line, following a Rutgers turnover. It took the Orange two plays as QB Andrew Robinson connected with WR Mike Williams for a 16-yard TD pass.
Syracuse reclaimed possession at the 9:36 mark in the first quarter and drove the ball 84 yards for its second score of the game. Robinson completed a pass 38-yard pass to begin the drive, which was capped off by a 15-yard touchdown carry RB Curtis Brinkley.
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TE Kevin Brock scored his first collegiate touchdown.
Photo by John Haeger |
Rutgers narrowed the lead to seven in the first quarter and eventually tied the score at 14-14 on a pair of TD runs from junior RB
Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.). Junior QB
Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) completed three passes on the Scarlet Knight's first scoring drive, including a 40-yard pass to sophomore WR
Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) which set up a seven-yard TD by Rice to make it 14-7. With the touchdown, Rice continued his scoring streak having visited the end zone in 13 consecutive games.
The Scarlet Knights reached pay-dirt for the second time against the Orange, thanks to an outstanding special teams play by sophomore CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.). After forcing a three-and-out, Syracuse set up to punt on fourth down, however, McCourty burst through the formation and blocked the Rob Long attempt. Sophomore WR Julian Hayes (Malverne, N.Y.) corralled the loose ball on the one-yard line. On the ensuing play, Rice pounded the ball into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game and the 12th multiple touchdown game of his career.
RU closed out the second half with 24 unanswered points as Britt scored a touchdown and senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) added a field goal to give the Scarlet Knights a 24-14 advantage entering halftime.
With less than 10 minutes showing on the game clock in the second quarter, Rutgers forced another Syracuse punt and on the return, the Orange was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul penalty. As a result, the Scarlet Knights started out with terrific field position and efficiently executed a four-play, 65-yard touchdown drive.
Teel connected with Britt on a pair of passes, the first a 21-yarder and the second a 42-yard TD reception to take a 21-14 lead. The drive lasted a total of one minute and 34 seconds. With his176 receiving yards on the afternoon, Britt posted the eighth-highest single-game total in Rutgers history. Ito put RU ahead 24-14 as he capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal.
Rutgers and Syracuse exchanged possession several times in a scoreless third quarter, but the Scarlet Knights would strike again in the fourth, increasing their lead to 24 points (38-14).
The Scarlet Knights scored on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter. RU completed a 59-yard scoring drive with a two-yard TD run by Rice - his third score of the game. The Scarlet Knights capped off their scoring with 32-yard pass from Teel to junior TE Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.) for the receiver's first career score.
Teel finished with 310 yards and two touchdowns on 20-for-29 passing. Rice nearly missed his fifth career 200-yard game with 196 yards on 36 carries.
Rutgers returns home to face No. 5 USF at Rutgers Stadium on Thursday at 7:30 on ESPN.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
Rutgers has won three straight games vs. Syracuse for the first time in series history with today's 38-14 victory. The series began in 1914. The Scarlet Knights have won four of the last five meetings vs. the Orange, outscoring SU 162-78.
Rutgers became the final team in the Football Bowl Subdivision to play a road game today with its game inside the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
After falling behind, 14-0, Rutgers scored 38 unanswered points to take a 38-14 lead on the Orange, holding SU without a score for 51 minutes.
The Rutgers defense posted a season-high five sacks today.
Since the 2005 season, Rutgers is 6-2 in games following a loss.
Player Notes
With three touchdowns today, junior RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) has now scored a touchdown in 13 consecutive games - the longest active streak in the nation.
With two first-half touchdowns and a fourth-quarter score, Rice moved into a tie with Amos Zereoue of West Virginia for fifth place in BIG EAST history in rushing touchdowns. He now has 38 rushing touchdowns for his career. It marked the 12th multiple touchdown
game of his career. He has recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in four of six games this season.
Rice finished the game with 199 yards on 36 carries for the 18th 100-yard rushing game of his career. He is now one 100-yard performance shy of the all-time school record for 100-yard rushing games set by 'JJ' Jennings (1971-73). Rice is now tied with Derrick Knight (2000-03) of Boston College for fifth in BIG EAST history in 100-yard rushing games.
Rice moved into third place in BIG EAST history in rushing yards after his performance today. His career total is now 3,735.
Rice also tied his career-high with four receptions for the third-straight week.
Sophomore WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) posted the third 100-yard receiving game of his career today. He finished the game with 176 yards on six catches. He previously touched the century mark in receiving yards at West Virginia on Dec. 2, 2006 (10-119-0)
and against Norfolk state on Sept. 15, 2007 (4-121-2).
Britt's receiving yardage total of 176 (on six catches) is the eighth-highest single-game total in Rutgers history.
Junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) recorded the fourth 300-yard passing game of his career with 310 yards on 20-for-29 for the game today. He topped the 200-yard mark in his last eight games.
True freshman safety Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) finished with a career-high six tackles, including the first two sacks of his career. His first sack caused an Andrew Robinson fumble which was recovered by fellow true freshman Jonathan Freeny (Margate,
Fla.). The fumble recovery by Freeny was the first of his career. Freeny also recorded his first-ever interception with a fourth quarter pick.
Junior TE Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.) hauled in a 32-yard pass from Mike Teel in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown. Brock finished the game with three receptions for 47 yards.
Senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) was 1-for-2 for field goals today. After connecting on a 25-yarder in the first second quarter, he snapped his streak of nine consecutive field goals made with a miss from 37 yards on the final play of the first half. Ito is now 9-for-11 in field goal attempts this season.
True freshman RG Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) earned his first career start today. He was the first true freshman to start on the offensive line for Rutgers since senior Jeremy Zuttah. Zuttah posted his first career start at guard on Nov. 25, 2004 against Connecticut. Davis' starting assignment came two days after his 18th birthday (Oct. 11).
Senior FB Jean Beljour (Hackensack, N.J.) recorded his second career start today. Beljour's first career start (also at FB) came on Nov. 6, 2004 at Boston College.
Sophomore CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) blocked his first career punt in the first quarter to setup Rice's one-yard touchdown run.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Coach Schiano
On the players' will to keep on playing:
'I was very pleased'?they just kept chopping away, chopping away, not worrying about the scoreboard, not worrying about whatever.'
On Syracuse being able to get wide open plays:
'We had read some misdirection pass coverage, but we didn't exactly play the way we were supposed to. We didn't do well on pass coverage, and then had some interceptions. I think our guys, for whatever reason, just didn't feel right out there today.'
On how proud he is of the team for not letting Syracuse score in the second half:
'I'm just proud that they stepped it up. This is what we talk about, just keeping it up, and they did it. That's what I'm most proud about.'
On the blocked punt:
'We've done that a lot here, and we have to keep doing it around here. It's something that you never know how its going to work out. You just keep trying it. That's the thing about punt blocks, you don't rely on it, but you keep working and take the chance when you get the opportunity.'
On his concern over penalties:
'Yeah, I'm concerned. We got a lot of holding calls. We've done well the past three weeks. It's certainly something we've got to get addressed and cleaned up. I know who is doing it, but I don't know why we're doing it.'
On new players doing good things:
'It does a lot of good for us. It shows us we're doing good things. Joe (Lefeged) showed them today that he is an explosive player.'
On defensive line:
'They did well. They played with a chip, they played with attitude. I don't know who got all the sacks, but that kid (Andrew Robinson) was on the ground a lot. He's a tough kid, he kept getting up and coming for more, but I know he was on the ground a lot.'
On players' attitudes during home games compared to away games:
'I don't think the kids get into whether it's home or away. They like when it's home because of the fans and everything. I don't know, maybe Syracuse was really popping, but it's a 60 minute game, and that's what we keep talking about.'
On Mike Teel's first interception:
'He told me after it that he jammed his thumb, the one that's been bothering him. We rushed him into the locker room, took a look at it. He came back and felt better. We have to look at that with the short week coming up. He jammed it and threw it, and it was numb. I thought we might have lost him there.'
On Mike Teel getting down on himself after losing:
'I told him to keep his head up. You know you can't be down on yourself or negative on the field or in our building. I get down after a loss, I know how he felt. But the thing is he's a leader, he continues to be a leader, and I just told him to keep his chin up. You know that kids are leaders when they step up during hard times. Each one of them has individual feelings, but when they can put those aside and unite for the best for the team, that's when you know you have a leader.'
On Ray Rice's performance:
'Outstanding. You know I've been saying he's a great player. He got a lot of hits today so he's going to be sore, but we're going to get him rested and ready for next week.'
On Kenny Britt's performance:
'He's a big strong guy. Now that he's stepping up we have three, big play guys.'
