LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A late fourth-quarter rally helped Louisville overcome an 18-point deficit to defeat Rutgers 41-38 at Papa John's Stadium on Thursday night, despite record-setting performances by Scarlet Knight wide receivers Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) and Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.), and running back Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.).

On Rutgers' fifth drive of the game, Underwood caught an 18-yard pass to go over the 1,000-yard receiving plateau for the season. Underwood became just the second wide receiver in 138 years of football at RU with more than 1,000 yards receiving. Later in the drive, Britt became the third member of the 1,000-yard receiving club with a 16-yard reception. The pair joined former Scarlet Knight wide receiver Tres Moses (2001-05) who caught 81 passes for 1,056 yards in 2004.

Kenny Britt (above) and Tiquan Underwood became the first teammates to top 1,000 receiving yards in the same season in BIG EAST history..

It marked the first time in BIG EAST history and only the 26th time in the NCAA that two players on the same team had at least 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Two teams - Texas Tech and Hawaii - have achieved the feat this year.   

Rice added to the record day as he finished with three rushing touchdowns on the night, giving him a total of 20 for the season. It marked the first time in Rutgers history that a running back posted back-to-back 20 touchdown seasons. He also moved into second place in all-time scoring (276 career points) with his three end zone runs.

For the third time this season, the Scarlet Knights scored on their opening drive, as they capped off a 69-yard march to the end zone with a 36-yard touchdown reception by Britt. The five-play drive took only 2:26 off the clock and marked the seventh time this year that RU has scored in less than three minutes.

The Cardinals answered on their first possession with a 41-yard field goal by Art Carmody. Louisville broke off a 55-yard run on the first play of the drive to the RU 18-yard line, but a sack on third down by freshman Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) and senior Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, Ontario) caused a loss of nine yards resulting in the field goal for UofL.

Rutgers found its scoring touch for the second time on its very next drive, taking a 14-3 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Rice. During the drive, junior quarterback Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) completed four of five pass attempts including a pair to junior tight end Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.) and one pass each to Britt and Underwood.

The scoring drive also featured a lateral pass to senior RT Jeremy Zuttah (Edison, N.J.), who carried the ball 13 yards to set up Rice's 18th touchdown of the season.

RU forced a three-and-out by the Cardinals and began its next possession on its own 41 yard line. The Scarlet Knights completed four plays, going 59 yards in 1:44 to take an 18 point lead (21-3) on a 14-yard touchdown run by Rice. The 21 first-quarter points against Louisville marked the first time Rutgers has scored 21 points in the opening quarter of a BIG EAST game in its 17 years in the league.

Louisville moved to within 11 points (21-10) of the Scarlet Knights as quarterback Brian Brohm concluded an eight play, 69-yard drive with a six-yard run for a touchdown.

The Scarlet Knights tacked on another score in the second quarter to make it 28-10 as Rice found the end zone for the third time. Rutgers began its drive with great field position after an 11-yard punt return by freshman Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.). RU needed just six plays to go 51 yards as Rice topped things off with his six-yard TD scamper. Rice carried four times for 22 yards, while Robinson added a 17-yard run to help move the ball for the Scarlet Knights.

Brohm and the Cardinals chipped away at RU's 18-point lead on the ensuing drive with a 52-yard touchdown pass over the middle to wide receiver Patrick Carter just before halftime as both teams entered the intermission with the score at 28-17.

On a fourth and sixth, Teel dropped back to pass and found Britt streaking down the near sideline for a 39-yard touchdown reception, his second score of the game. The drive went 43 yards, took four plays and lasted just 1:48, a testament to the efficiency of Rutgers' high-powered offense. The Scarlet Knights have made quick work of opposing defenses this season with 26 scoring drives coming in less than two minutes.

The Cardinals responded on their next possession, going 13 plays for 71 yards to again pull within 11 points. Running back Brock Bolen rushed up the middle for a five-yard touchdown, making the score 35-24. Senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) would later tack on a 21-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, extending the Scarlet Knights' lead 38-24.

Louisville answered with a rally, scoring back-to-back touchdowns by Bolen and running back Bilal Powell to tie the game at 38-38. UofL eventually went on to secure the 41-38 victory with a game-winning field goal by Carmody.

Rutgers will next be in action on Saturday, Jan. 5, after accepting a bid to the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada. The Scarlet Knights will await an announcement regarding its Mid-American Conference opponent. The game will kickoff at noon and be televised live on ESPN2. It marks the first time in school history that Rutgers will appear in a bowl game for the third consecutive season.

POSTGAME NOTES

Team Notes

Rutgers wide receivers Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) each went over the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards this season with their total in the first half. It marked just the 26th time in NCAA history and the FIRST TIME in BIG EAST history two players from the same team had 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Two teams (Texas Tech and Hawaii) have done it this year.

The pair also became the second and third players in Rutgers history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season. The first Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat was Tres Moses, who posted 1,056 yards in 2004.

The 21 first-quarter points against Louisville marked the first time Rutgers scored 21 points in the opening quarter of a BIG EAST game in its 17years in the league. The 21 points also tied a season high in the opening quarter. The Scarlet Knights led Buffalo, 21-0, in the season opener on Aug. 30 en route to a 38-3 victory over the Bulls.

The 2007 Rutgers team has now scored the second most points in a season in school history. After producing 38 points against Louisville, the Scarlet Knights now have 374points on the season 13 points behind the school record total of 387 points established last season.

The Rutgers five-play drive encompassing 69 yards that was capped by a 35-yard completion from Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) to Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) for a touchdown marked the third time this season the Scarlet Knights scored a touchdown on their opening drive. RU also reached the end zone against Army (Nov. 9) and Buffalo (Aug. 30).

With 25 first downs against Louisville, Rutgers set a new school record for first downs in a season with 270 this season. The total topped the previous record of 255 first downs recorded in 1995.

With 265 passing yards against Louisville, the 2007 Rutgers team moved into second place in school history in single-season passing yards with 2,964.

Player Notes

With three first-half touchdowns, junior RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.J) moved into second place in school history in career scoring. He passed Kennan Starzell (1976-79) and Brian Leonard (2003-06) and now has 276 career points.

His three touchdowns tied him with Syracuse's Walter Reyes (2001-04) for third place in BIG EAST history in career rushing touchdowns with 45 for his career.

Rice became the 28th player in NCAA history to rush for more than 4,600 yards in his career. He ended the game with 4,646).

Rice also moved into third place in school history in single-season scoring. With 12 points against Louisville, he now has 126 points this season.

Rice also eclipsed the school and BIG EAST single-season record for attempts (335) he set last season. With 30 attempts against Louisville, he now has 345 attempts this season.  

Rice's 120-yard game against Louisville marked the seventh-straight game he has rushed for at least 100 yards in a game. It ties the school record he already shares with "JJ" Jennings (11/25/72-11/7/73).

Senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) connected on a 21-yard fourth-quarter field goal to pass Nebraska's Kris Brown (1995-98) and move into ninth place in NCAA history with 390 career points.

Ito also moved into a tie with UCLA's John Lee (1982-85) and current Oregon State kicker Alexis Serna for fifth place in NCAA history with his 79th career field goal.

Ito also passed Miami's Dane Prewitt (1992-95) for eighth place in BIG EAST history in extra points. With fiveextra points against Louisville, Ito now has 153 extra points in his career.

Sophomore WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) broke the school record for receiving yards in a season. He topped Tres Moses' 2004 total of 1,056.  He finished the game with 173 yards on 12 catches. It marked the fourth time this year and fifth time in his 21-game carder Britt has eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards.

Britt's two touchdowns tied him with Steve Harper (1995), Chris Brantley (1992) and Mark Twitty (1975) for fourth place in school history in single-season touchdowns with seven this season.

Britt's 12 receptions marked a career high and also moved him into seventh place in single-season history with 56 catches on the year.

Junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) moved into second place in Rutgers single-season history for passing yards with 2,844. He passed Ryan Hart's 2003 total of 2,714 to move into second place after throwing for 265 yards against Louisville.

Teel also threw two TDs to move into a tie for third place in school single-season history with 17 touchdowns. He also passed Frank Burns (1945-48) and moved into fifth place in school history in career touchdowns with 31 in his career.

On Rutgers' second scoring drive of the game, senior RT Jeremy Zuttah (Edison, N.J.) recorded his first career carry, rushing 13 yards to the Louisville 10-yard line, setting up a Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.J.) touchdown on the next play. 

True freshman RB Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.) recorded his first career start against Louisville.

True freshman DE Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) posted his first career sack, assisting senior DE Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, Ontario) on a quarterback takedown in the first quarter against Louisville.