TAMPA, Fla. (November 3, 2010) – Rutgers football (4-4, 1-2 BIG EAST) came up just short on the road at USF (5-3, 2-2 BIG EAST) in a game that featured five lead changes and two ties as the Bulls secured a one-point victory 28-27 at Raymond James Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.) made his fourth-straight start, going 19-for-22 for 139 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Mark Harrison (Stratford, Conn.) led the Scarlet Knight receivers with five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Dodd set a Rutgers’ single-game record for a true freshman QB by completing 86 percent of his passes vs. the Bulls.
A four-yard TD completion from quarterback B.J. Daniels to wide receiver Evan Landi gave the Bulls their first score of the game and a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Scarlet Knights evened the score two possessions later on a standout special teams play by redshirt junior wide receiver Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.), who took a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-7. The punt return for a touchdown was the first for RU since Sept. 30, 2005, when Willie Foster returned a punt 71 yards to the end zone against Pittsburgh.
After forcing a USF punt, Rutgers pulled ahead 10-7 on its next drive as junior placekicker San San Te (Conover, N.C.) connected on a 25-yard field goal.
The lead changed hands again with USF reclaiming the advantage at 14-10 with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to wide receiver Dontavia Bogan in the second quarter.
The fourth lead change of the game came on a 28-yard touchdown pass from sophomore wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) to Harrison to put Rutgers ahead 17-14. For Sanu, it was his third career passing touchdown (second of the season), while Harrison hauled in a touchdown pass in each of the last four games. The last Scarlet Knight to record a receiving touchdown in four-straight games was Tim Brown who caught five TD passes over a four game span.
USF knotted the game just before halftime on a 47-yard field goal by Maikon Bonani with 32 seconds left to play in the second quarter.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Rutgers pulled ahead with a one-yard touchdown run by junior running back Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) to make it a seven point advantage at 24-17. The Bulls closed the gap to four points (24-20) with a 21-yard field goal by Bonani on the next possession. A USF safety pulled the Bulls to within two points at 24-22 later in the third quarter.
Junior defensive tackle Justin Francis (Opa-Locka, Fla.) intercepted a Daniels pass – the first of his career – to quell a USF drive and give the Scarlet Knights great field position at the start of the fourth quarter. Rutgers tacked on three points with a 30-yard field goal by Te, increasing the lead to 27-22.
The seesaw battle continued into the fourth quarter as USF again retook the lead with a touchdown. Running back Mo Plancher carried the Bulls down to the goal line before fumbling in the end zone, which was recovered by offensive lineman Jacob Sims. USF’s two-point conversion was incomplete, leaving the Bulls with a one-point lead at 28-27.
Rutgers had two drives to regain the lead, but could not convert as the Bulls held on for the one-point victory.
The Scarlet Knights return home to host BIG EAST foe Syracuse on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU at Rutgers Stadium.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
Rutgers lost 28-27 at USF Wednesday night at Raymond James Stadium. Rutgers moved to 4-4 on the season and 1-2 in the BIG EAST.
It was the Scarlet Knights’ first loss in five games - dating back to the 2006 season - in the state of Florida, snapping a previous four-game win streak. The Scarlet Knights defeated FIU 19-14 in Miami earlier this season and own victories against USF in 2006 and 2008. It was Rutgers’ first loss in the Sunshine State since Nov. 22, 2003 at No. 14/13 Miami.
It also marked RU’s first loss at Raymond James Stadium against the Bulls. Rutgers defeated USF in 2006 and 2008. Rutgers leads the all-time series against the Bulls 4-2.
Rutgers registered its 45th defense/special teams touchdown in the Greg Schiano era with junior Mason Robinson’s (Somerville, N.J.) 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
It was the Scarlet Knights’ second special teams touchdown in as many games and third of the season
It marked RU’s first punt return for a touchdown since Sept. 30, 2005 when Willie Foster returned a punt 71 yards to the end zone against Pittsburgh.
Special Teams Touchdowns in 2010
Date Opponent Player Result
11/3 at USF Mason Robinson 60-yard punt return
10/23at Pittsburgh Brandon Bing 0-yard blocked punt return
9/2 Norfolk State Joe Lefeged3-yard blocked punt return
Player Notes
True freshman QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.) started his fourth straight game and finished the contest 19-for-22 for 139 yards. He opened the game with six straight completions.
Dodd completed 86 percent of his passes to set a new Rutgers single-game record for completion percentage by a true freshman. Dodd broke Ryan Cubit’s single-game record of completing 65 percent of his passes vs. Navy on Oct. 20, 2001. Cubit was 13-of-20 passing vs. the Mids.
Junior WR Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.) returned his first career punt for a touchdown with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown against USF. The 60-yard return was also a career long and the most career punt return yards in a game for the junior.
The touchdown was the second of Robinson’s career. He posted a rushing touchdown against Morgan State on Sept. 27, 2005 against Morgan State.
Sophomore Mark Harrison (Stratford, Conn.) caught a 28-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against USF, marking the wide receiver’s fourth-straight game with a touchdown reception.
Harrison is the first Scarlet Knight to record a receiving touchdown in four consecutive games since Tim Brown had five touchdowns in a four-game span last season against Connecticut, USF, Syracuse and Louisville.
Sophomore WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) recorded his third career passing touchdown with a 28-yard touchdown throw to Harrison in the second quarter. It was the second passing touchdown of the season for Sanu, who also tossed a 24-yard touchdown to sophomore TE D.C. Jefferson (Winter Haven, Fla.) out of the wildcat formation at FIU on Sept. 11. Sanu recorded his first career touchdown pass with a 38-yard touchdown to WR Tim Brown at Syracuse on Nov. 21, 2009.
Junior DL Justin Francis (Opa-Locka, Fla.) intercepted his first career pass in the third quarter against USF.
Junior RB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) recorded his third touchdown in as many games against USF. The running back posted a pair of touchdowns against the Bulls in Tampa in 2008 and had a rushing score vs. USF at home last season.
True freshman WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.) recorded a career-high nine carries for a career-best 69 yards with a career-long 22-yard run out of the Wild Knight formation.
Redshirt freshman OL Devon Watkis (Coram, N.Y.) made his first career start in the USF contest. Watkis was the starter at right tackle against the Bulls.
Redshirt freshman DB Darrell Givens (Fort Washington, Md.) made his collegiate debut on the game’s opening kickoff at USF.
