COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Rutgers football team (3-1, 0-1 BIG EAST) defeated Maryland 34-13, behind a stout effort from its defensive unit on Saturday at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The Scarlet Knights forced a total of five (three interceptions, two fumbles) turnovers against the Terrapins, including just 28 yards rushing by the Terps.
Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and became the first Scarlet Knight since Ray Rice to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games.
The Scarlet Knights recorded three interceptions in the game, tying the most in a contest for them since RU had three picks against NC State in the PapaJohn’s.com Bowl on Dec. 29, 2009. The Rutgers defense also posted two defensive touchdowns marking the first time during the Greg Schiano era that the defensive unit had a pair of TDs in a single contest.
Rutgers scored on the first offensive possession of the game, ironically, on Maryland’s opening drive as junior linebacker Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards into the end zone. It was Lowery’s first career interception and touchdown, giving RU a 7-0 lead.
The Terrapins narrowed the gap on their next drive, going 45 yards in five plays, culminating in a successful field goal attempt by Nick Ferrara to make it 7-3. The Scarlet Knights added three more points to their total at the start of the second quarter when an 11-play drive ended with a 23-yard field goal by sophomore San San Te (Conover, N.C.) for a 10-3 lead.
At the 13:26 mark of the second quarter, Maryland tied the score at 10-10 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Chris Turner to LaQuan Williams. The Scarlet Knights and Terps then traded possessions with RU ending a Maryland drive prematurely after senior CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) intercepted another Turner pass at midfield. The interception was the fifth of his career.
Maryland took over the lead at the close of the first half, connecting on a 34-yard field goal by Ferrara for a 13-10 edge at halftime. Senior CB Billy Anderson (West Orange, N.J.) recorded his first career interception following the break as junior S Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) hit Turner during the pass attempt, causing an errant throw. It was Turner’s third pick of the game.
Lefeged had a part in the Scarlet Knights’ next scoring opportunity as he forced a fumble on Turner in the end zone, which was recovered by senior DE George Johnson (Glassboro, N.J.) to put Rutgers ahead 17-13. The touchdown was RU’s second defensive score of the game.
The Rutgers defense once again came up big as senior LB Damaso Munoz (Miami, Fla.) forced a fumble on Maryland running back Da’Rel Scott which was recovered by junior DE Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) in UM territory at the 48 yard line.
The fumble recovery set up the Scarlet Knights’ next score as RU went 21 yards, for another Te field goal, this time from 37 yards out. His second successful kick of the game gave Rutgers a 20-13 lead at the 12:48 mark in the fourth quarter.
Martinek helped seal the victory with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game. With 4:53 remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, Martinek ran 29 yards into the end zone. He then broke off a 61-yard TD run with 3:26 left to play, as the Scarlet Knights defeated Maryland 34-13. Martinek finished with 147 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
Rutgers will return to action on Oct. 10 following a bye week to host Texas Southern.
