PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Sophomore running back Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries and senior wide receiver Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) caught four passes for 131 yards to help Rutgers (2-1) to a 23-15 win over FIU (0-2) Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights' defense registered five sacks and limited the Panthers to just 42 yards rushing in the victory.
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Sophomore Joe Martinek recorded his first 100-yard rushing game. (Tom Ciszek/NJSportsPhoto) |
Rutgers capitalized off a turnover to post the contest's first points. Redshirt freshman free safety
Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.) intercepted his first career pass and returned the aerial theft 32 yards to the FIU 32-yard line. Four plays later,
San San Te (Conover, N.C.) split the uprights from 39 yards to provide the home squad a 3-0 edge with 7:43 showing on the first quarter clock.
Rutgers extended its lead to double digits as the first half wound towards a close. The Scarlet Knights utilized three signal callers on a 10-play, 94-yard drive to pay dirt. After Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) and Jabu Lovelace (Tenafly, N.J.) maneuvered the team downfield, Domenic Natale (Sea Girt, N.J.) crossed the plane on a two-yard carry to produce a 10-0 advantage with 2:42 remaining before halftime.
Then, courtesy of good field position provided by a stingy defense, RU was able to tack on a field goal just before the break. After Rutgers forced a three-and-out, the Panthers were whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty deep in their own territory. The ensuing punt provided the home squad possession at the FIU 40-yard line. The Scarlet Knights moved inside the red zone, before Te booted a 29-yard field goal to produce a 13-0 advantage.
The Rutgers defense limited Florida International to just three first downs in the opening 30 minutes, as the Panthers managed to enter Rutgers territory on just one possession, to the home 46-yard line. The Scarlet Knights generated 201 total yards and limited FIU to just 57. The visitors were also 0-for-7 on third down in the opening half.
After a scoreless third quarter, RU increased its lead in the early stages of the final stanza. A 27-yard Te field goal capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive and provided a 16-0 lead with 12:43 to play.
Having throttled FIU all afternoon, the Rutgers defense then decided to make an impact on offense. With the Panthers holding a first-and-10 at its 20 yard line, quarterback Paul McCall's pass was intercepted by senior linebacker Ryan D'Imperio (Sewell, N.J.). The team captain returned the pick 38 yards into the end zone for his first career score and to give Rutgers a commanding 23-0 advantage with 8:06 on the clock.
With Rutgers looking to post a shutout in a game for fourth consecutive season, FIU was finally able to find the end zone. T.Y. Hilton caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from McCall to stop RU's string of 23 unanswered points. The result was a 23-7 score with 6:51 remaining.
The final points of the game also belonged to the Panthers. It was Hilton once again for the visitors, this time hauling a 14-yard scoring aerial from McCall. Hilton also snatched the two-point conversion toss to produce the 23-15 final score.
Defensively, Rutgers was paced by senior defensive end George Johnson (Glassboro, N.J.) and junior defensive end Jonathan Freeny (Tampa, Fla.). Johnson had a team and career-high 10 total tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, and a fumble recovery. Freeny posted two sacks and a quarterback hurry. RU collectively totaled 22 hurries, including five by junior defensive end Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.).
The Scarlet Knights return to the gridiron next Saturday (Sept. 26) for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Maryland. The game will be televised live on the Internet via ESPN360.com.
POST GAME NOTES
Team Notes
Rutgers moved to 2-1 on the season with a 23-15 victory over Florida International Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. It marked the first meeting between the two schools and the first game played for the Scarlet Knights vs. a Sun Belt team.
Rutgers held FIU to 42 yards rushing on 23 carries, the 10th lowest rushing output for an opponent in the Greg Schiano era. It marked the 31st time under Schiano that a Rutgers defense has held its opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards in a game.
The Rutgers defense had five sacks against FIU. It was the most sacks for the Scarlet Knights since Nov. 8, 2008, when RU also had five against Syracuse.
Senior LB Ryan D'Imperio's (Sewell, N.J.) 38-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter marked the 34th defense or special teams touchdown in the Greg Schiano era. It was the first interception return for a touchdown since CB Jason McCourty returned a 30-yard interception for a touchdown at USF on Nov. 15, 2008.
Rutgers put together a 10-play, 94-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. The yardage is the most on a touchdown drive since the Scarlet Knights' five-play, 98-yard touchdown drive against Louisville on Dec. 4, 2008.
The FIU game marked head coach Greg Schiano's 100th career game as a head coach. He is 48-52 in his first 100 games with today's victory against the Panthers.
Player Notes
Junior DE Jonathan Freeny (Tampa, Fla.) recorded multiple sacks for the second-straight game, tallying both his sacks in the first half against FIU. He recorded a pair of sacks against Howard last Saturday.
Freeny is the first Scarlet Knight to record multiple sacks in consecutive games since All-BIG EAST DT and current Indianapolis Colts DT Eric Foster (2004-07) had two sacks against Louisville (Nov. 29, 2007) and in the International Bowl against Ball State (Jan. 5, 2008).
Senior LB Ryan D'Imperio (Sewell, N.J.) recorded his second career interception with the pick in the fourth quarter against FIU. He returned it 38 yards for his first career touchdown.
Sophomore Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) recorded his first 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 121 yards on 23 carries against FIU. His previous career-high was 98 yards at USF on Nov. 15, 2008.
Senior WR Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) finished the game with 131 yards on four catches, marking the second-straight 100-yard game for Brown. He now has six career 100-yard receiving games, which is tied with Tiquan Underwood (2005-08) for fourth all-time in 100-yard receiving games in Rutgers history.
Senior QB Dom Natale (Sea Girt, N.J.) recorded his first career touchdown with a two-yard run in the second quarter against FIU.
Redshirt freshman DB Khaseem Greene (Elizabeth, N.J.) posted his first career interception in the first quarter against FIU. He returned it 32 yards to set up a field goal three plays later.
Senior DE George Johnson (Glassboro, N.J.) recorded his second career fumble recovery in the second quarter against FIU. Johnson recovered the fumble on the FIU 15-yard line, resulting in an RU field goal four plays later.
Sophomore PK San San Te (Conover, N.J.) matched his career-high with three field goals in a game after connecting on field goals of 39, 27 and 29 yards against FIU. It is the second-straight week he has recorded three field goals in a game.
True freshman TE Tony Trahan (Coppell, Texas) recorded his first career reception in the second quarter against FIU. Trahan hauled in a 22-yard pass from QB Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.). He finished the game with two catches for 27 yards.
True sophomore DB David Rowe (Cocoa, Fla.), redshirt sophomore OL Desmond Wynn (Bear, Del.) and redshirt freshman WR Marcus Cooper (Bloomfield, Conn.) became the ninth, 10th and 11th Scarlet Knights to register their first career start this season. Wynn started at right guard for RU, while sophomore RG Art Forst (Manasquan, N.J.) moved over to LG. Rowe started at CB.