PISCATAWAY, N.J. – True freshman quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) threw for 248 yards and a score in his first career BIG EAST start, but it was not enough as Rutgers (4-2, 0-2) dropped a hard-fought 24-17 decision to Pittsburgh (6-1, 3-0) Friday evening at Rutgers Stadium on ESPN. Senior wide receiver Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in the defeat, which snapped the Scarlet Knights’ four game winning streak.
Savage managed an offense that scored on each of its trip inside the red zone. Defensively, RU totaled 10 tackles-for-losses and had three players with 11 stops or more. Senior safety Zaire Kitchen (Hightstown, N.J.) and junior linebacker Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) both produced career-bests of 12 total tackles.
Rutgers posted the evening’s first points. After driving into Pittsburgh territory on their initial possession, the Scarlet Knights punted. The kick bounded off the turf deep in visitor territory and deflected off a Pitt player, before being recovered by Demaso Munoz (Miami, Fla.) at the 11-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) took a direct snap from center in the wildcat formation and dashed 11-yards into the end zone to enable a 7-0 advantage with 12:36 showing on the first quarter clock. It marked the first career touchdown for the true freshman wideout.
The Panthers answered on the ensuing possession. Bill Stull connected with Dorin Dickerson on a seven-yard touchdown pass to knot the score at 7-7 with 9:41 remaining in the opening stanza.
Pittsburgh took a slim lead in the early stages of the second quarter. After missing on a 42-yard try less than three minutes earlier, kicker Dan Hutchins split the uprights from 45 yards to give the visitors a 10-7 edge. The field goal concluded a 21-yard drive that was initiated via a Rutgers turnover.
The Panthers then increased their advantage to double digits on a one-yard Dion Lewis touchdown plunge. The rush capped an eight play, 68-yard drive.
Trailing 17-7 with little more than three minutes remaining before the break, the Scarlet Knights responded to the challenge. A 31-yard reception by Brown highlighted a nine play, 76-yard possession to pay dirt. The Pittsburgh defense was whistled for multiple infractions on the drive, which was capped by a 23-yard San San Te (Conover, N.C.) field goal.
The teams entered the locker room at the midpoint with the visiting squad holding a 17-10 advantage. Rutgers scored on both of its ventures into the red zone in the opening half, while also establishing the advantage in passing yards.
The first score of the second half belonged to the Panthers. After trading possessions with the Scarlet Knights to begin the third quarter, Pittsburgh increased its lead to 24-10 on a 58-yard Lewis run.
A blocked punt by Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) highlighted the third quarter. It marked the fifth blocked kick of the senior’s career. The block was preceded by a 10-yard sack by redshirt freshman safety Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.).
The Scarlet Knights struck in definitive fashion in the final stanza courtesy of a forced turnover. Munoz sacked Stull and forced a fumble which was recovered by Eric LeGrand (Colonia, N.J.) at the Pitt 49-yard line. Eight plays later, Brown caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Savage and RU trailed by a single score, 24-17, with 9:37 remaining. The aerial strike completed an eight play, 49-yard drive that featured four Savage completions.
The Rutgers defense did its job in the late stages, enabling the offense to take the field trailing by seven with 2:31 on the clock. The Scarlet Knights were unable to reach the end zone, however, and suffered their first loss in five contests.
Rutgers returns to the gridiron next Friday (Oct. 23) for an 8:00 p.m. kick-o ff at Army. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN2.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
With the first-quarter turnover by Pittsburgh, Rutgers has now gained a turnover in 12 straight games, dating back to last season. The Scarlet Knights are +20 in turnover differential over the last 13 games.
The Rutgers defense has posted at least one sack in each of the last 13 games. During that streak, the Scarlet Knights' defensive unit has registered multiple sacks 10 times, including each of the last five games. RU has totaled 41 sacks in the last 13 games.
Eight different Scarlet Knights contributed a tackle for loss against Pittsburgh.
Player Notes
Senior CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) blocked his fifth career kick in the Pittsburgh contest, blocking a punt in the third quarter.
True freshman WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) recorded his first career touchdown with an 11-yard TD run in the first quarter against Pittsburgh. Sanu had previously hit pay dirt on a two-point conversion in the season opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 7.
True freshman QB Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) set a career-high in completions with 23 against Pittsburgh. His previous career-high was 15 against Cincinnati on Sept. 7. He also set a career-high in attempts with 39 (previous career-high was 28 against FIU on Sept. 19). In addition, Savage’s 248 passing yards also signaled a career-best (previous career high was 223 against Howard on Sept. 12).
Savage attempted 92 passes before recording his first interception. It is the most passes by a true freshman quarterback in the Greg Schiano era before his first interception. It is the most passes without an interception since Mike Teel recorded 100 consecutive pass attempts before throwing an interception last season.
Senior WR Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) tied his career-high in receptions with seven against Pittsburgh. It is the fourth time he has recorded seven catches in a game. He finished the contest with 96 receiving yards. With his 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh, Brown moved into sole possession of sixth place on the school’s all-time receiving touchdowns list with 14 for his career. He was previously tied with Brian Leonard (2003-06) and Bob Simms (1957-59).
Senior FS Zaire Kitchen (Hightstown, N.J.) posted a career-best 12 tackles in the Pittsburgh contest. His previous career-high was eight against Howard on Sept. 12.
Junior LB Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) recorded a career-high 12 tackles against the Panthers, including one tackle for loss. His previous career-high tackle total was eight against Maryland on Sept. 26.
Junior DE Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) recorded 2.0 tackles for losses against Pittsburgh to give him at least one TFL in eight of the last nine games, dating back to last season.
Sophomore PK San San Te (Conover, N.C.) connected on a 23-yard field goal in the first half against Pittsburgh. It was his 21st career field goal to move him into a tie with Steve Barone (1998-2001) for the ninth-most field goals made in school history.
