PISCATAWAY, N.J. - True freshman quarterback Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start to help Rutgers (1-1) to a 45-7 victory over Howard (0-1) Saturday afternoon at Rutgers Stadium. RU sophomore running back Jourdan Brooks (Germantown, Md.) rushed 17 times for 124 yards and three scores, while senior wide receiver Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) caught three passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, in the decisive win.

Tom Savage set a Rutgers school record for yards per completion by a true freshman QB with 27.8 yards per completion. (Tom Ciszek/NJSportsPhoto)

The Scarlet Knights scored 32 straight points to begin the game and posted points on seven consecutive possessions to conclude the opening half. Rutgers had four touchdown drives in the first 30 minutes that consisted of two plays or less, including a pair of single strikes, en route to 42 first half points.

Rutgers posted the contest's first points on a 24-yard field goal off the foot of sophomore San San Te (Conover, N.C.). Te split the uprights less than four minutes into the game to cap a six play, 62-yard drive that featured a 49-yard Savage-to-Brown connection.

The home squad's advantage quickly grew to double digits. On RU's ensuing possession, the offense moved seamlessly downfield, travelling 82 yards on 11 plays that consumed 4:03 off the clock. Brooks crossed the plane via a six-yard jaunt to provide a 10-0 advantage with 3:53 remaining in the opening stanza.

The second quarter was played to the same tune, as Rutgers continued to impress its will. The first score of the stanza was achieved in quick and definitive fashion. Savage and former quarterback-turned-starting tight end D.C. Jefferson (Winter Haven, Fla.) connected on a 46-yard aerial, before the freshman hooked up with senior fullback Jack Corcoran Atlantic City, N.J.) on a 21-yard scoring toss. The two play touchdown drive took just 39 seconds.

The next Rutgers score was enabled by the defense. On a first-and-10 play from the Howard 16, junior linebacker Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) forced a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive tackle Charlie Noonan (Philadelphia, Pa.) and returned to the visitor six-yard line. Two plays later, Brooks carried-in from two yards out to with 13:04 still to go before the break. A successful two-point conversion, courtesy of a Shamar Graves (Woodbrige, N.J.) rush, enabled a 25-0 advantage.
The following Rutgers drive would be the first of consecutive, single-play, scoring possessions. Savage and Brown joined on a 68-yard touchdown pass that increased the lead to 32-0 with 10:39 showing on the second quarter clock.

The Bison were able to end their scoring drought courtesy of an eight play, 78-yard drive. Facing a fourth-and three just inside RU territory, quarterback Floyd Haigler threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Willie Carter to put the visitors on the board, 32-7.

With a little over four minutes remaining before halftime, 10 points were still on the agenda for the Scarlet Knights. First, Brooks broke free for a 57-yard rushing touchdown. It marked the second straight, one-play, scoring drive for the home squad. The final points came courtesy of a 20-yard Te field goal that sent Rutgers into the locker room at the midpoint with a commanding 42-7 advantage.

RU compiled 341 total yards in the opening 30 minutes, while Howard managed 161. 223 of Rutgers' yards came via the passing game, as Brown accumulated all of 132 receiving yards prior to intermission.

The lone score after halftime was a 30-yard field goal by Te. The kick came on the heels of an eight play, 41-yard drive in the third quarter.

Defensively, Rutgers was sparked by junior defensive end Jonathan Freeny (Tampa. Fla.) and senior free safety Zaire Kitchen (Hightstown, N.J.). Freeny had three tackles-for-losses, including two sacks, a forced a fumble and a pair of quarterback hurries. Kitchen had a team-high eight total tackles.

The Scarlet Knights return to the gridiron next Saturday (Sept. 26) versus Florida International in a 5:00 p.m. kick-off from Rutgers Stadium. The game will be televised live on SNY.

POSTGAME NOTES

Team Notes
Rutgers had four touchdown drives of two plays or less in the first half, both in the second quarter. The Scarlet Knights had two, two-play drives encompassing 67 yards and six yards and two, one-play drives encompassing 68 and 57 yards.

Rutgers' Second-Quarter Touchdown Drives…

Plays Yards Time
2 67 0:39
2 6 0:56
1 68 0:10
1 57 0:12
6 198 1:57

Rutgers last had four touchdown drives of two plays or less at Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, 2008. QB Mike Teel orchestrated three, one-play drives and one two-play TD drive versus the Panthers.

With the win, Rutgers improved to 2-0 all-time against Howard. The Scarlet Knights also defeated the Bison during the 2006 season.

Player Notes
True freshman QB Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) became the second Rutgers true freshman quarterback in school history to start and lead the Scarlet Knights to a victory. Savage finished 8-for-13 and joined Ryan Cubit as the only two true freshman starting QBs in school history to register a win.

Savage finished the game 8-for-13 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. It is the fifth-most yards by a true freshman QB in his first career start.

Year Player Opponent C-A-I Yards TD Long
2009 Tom Savage Howard 8-13-0 223 2 68
2002 Ryan Hart Miami 9-23-2 110 0 40
2001 Ryan Cubit at Buffalo 11-23-2 157 2 39
1997 Mike McMahon at Army 26-42-1 386 1 40
1981 Jacque LaPrairie at Boston College 2-16-2 38 0 -

Savage set a Rutgers school record for yards per completion by a true freshman QB with 27.8 yards per completion. He broke the single-game record set by Ryan Cubit vs. Navy in 2001, when Cubit passed for an average of 25.1 yards per completion vs. the Mids (13-of-20, 327 yards).

Redshirt freshman TE D.C. Jefferson (Winter Haven, Fla.), who made his collegiate debut and first career start against Howard, made his first career reception, hauling in a 46-yard pass in the second quarter to set up a Rutgers touchdown on the next play.

Sophomore RB Jourdan Brooks (Germantown, Md.) tied his career-high with three rushing touchdowns. He rushed four times for 63 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first half. His other three-rushing TD game came against Morgan State on Sept. 27, 2008.

Brooks finished the game with 124 rushing yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns. The rushing total was 10 yards shy of his career-best total on the ground achieved at Navy on Sept. 20, 2008. It is Brooks' third career 100-yard rushing game.

Sophomore PK San San Te (Conover, N.C.) connected on three field goals, matching his career-high for field goals in one game. He also achieved the feat against Army (11/22/08) and in the PapaJohns.com Bowl against NC State (12/29/08). Te converted field goals of 24, 20 and 30 yards in the Howard contest.

Senior FS Zaire Kitchen (Hightstown, N.J.) recorded a career-best eight tackles. His previous career-high tackle total was seven against Syracuse on Nov. 8, 2008.

Junior DE Jonathan Freeny (Tampa, Fla.) finished with career-highs in tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (2.0).

Senior LB Damaso Munoz (Miami, Fla.) recorded his first career fumble recovery in the first quarter.

Nine Scarlet Knights made their collegiate debuts against Howard:

True freshman LB Ka'Lial Glaud (Atco, N.J.)
Redshirt sophomore OL Matthew Hardison (Freehold, N.J.)
True freshman DB Duron Harmon (Magnolia, Del.)
True freshman WR Mark Harrison (Stratford, Conn.)
Redshirt freshman D.C. Jefferson (Winter Haven, Fla.)
Redshirt freshman WR Eddie Poole (Belle Glade, Fla.)
True freshman TE Tony Trahan (Coppell, Texas)
True freshman RB De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, Va.)
Redshirt sophomore OL Desmond Wynn (Bear, Del.)