PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior running back Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) rushed for 109 yards and a score to help Rutgers to a 31-0 win over Norfolk State Thursday evening before 46,311 fans in the season opener at Rutgers Stadium. The RU defense limited the Spartans to 156 total yards, including just 25 on the ground, in the shutout victory.
In addition to the strong defensive effort, which limited NSU to a 0-for-12 mark on third down conversions, specialty units also shined for the Scarlet Knights. Senior cornerback Brandon Bing (Wyncote, Pa.) blocked two punts that resulted in scores.
The Scarlet Knights generated 230 yards in the second half, posting 25 points. RU scored on all three of its trips inside the red zone and was a perfect five-for-five for the game.
San San Te (Conover, N.C.)split the uprights from 31 yards to produce a 3-0 edge with 7:30 on the first quarter clock.
The kick looked to be the only score of the half, as Te was wide on field goal opportunities of 40 and 47 yards. With less than a minute to play, however, the Scarlet Knights surged. A 28-yard punt return by Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.) preceded Tom Savage (Springfield, Pa.) passes to Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) of 26 and 29 yards, respectively, during a five-play, 49-yard drive. The second connection to the sophomore brought RU to within three yards of the goal line with just one second on the clock. After an official review, the home squad utilized that lone second to boot a 20-yard field goal to enter the locker room at the midpoint with a 6-0 advantage.
RU’s initial touchdown of its young campaign came with 7:55 showing on the third quarter clock. A six-yard Martinek scoring scamper capped a seven play, 75-yard drive. The junior carried four times on the drive for 54 yards. A Sanu rush from the wildcat formation resulted in a successful two-point conversion and Rutgers led 14-0.
The Rutgers special teams, already having a productive evening, quickly increased the advantage. After forcing a three-and-out on the Spartans ensuing possession, Bing blocked his second punt of the night. Senior safety Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) scooped the ball up at the NSU three-yard line and entered the end zone to set up a 21-0 advantage.
The next score landed in the hands of Sanu. Savage connected with the receiver on a 10-yard touchdown toss with 8:27 remaining to widen the divide to 28-0. The reception was the culmination of a methodical, 11-play, 70-yard drive.
The last score of the evening came off the foot of Te, who booted a 27-yard field goal with 4:40 remaining to provide the 31-0 final.
The Scarlet Knights returns to the gridiron next Saturday evening at Florida International. Kickoff for the contest, which will be televised live on SNY and WPVI-DT2, is slated for 8:00 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
Rutgers defeated Norfolk State 31-0 Thursday evening to open the 2010 season at Rutgers Stadium.
With the 31-0 shutout of Norfolk State, Rutgers has posted a shutout in each of the past five seasons. The Scarlet Knights are the lone team to achieve the feat in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The shutout was the 34th in a season opener for Rutgers all-time and the first since Sept. 8, 1979 when RU opened the season with a 28-0 victory over Holy Cross.
With the win, Rutgers improved to 71-61-9 all-time in season openers and 6-4 under head coach Greg Schiano.
The Scarlet Knights are 96-36-10 overall in home openers.
With the win, RU improved to 8-0 all-time vs. schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and 5-0 under Greg Schiano. RU improved to 2-0 all-time against Norfolk State.
Rutgers recorded the 43rd defensive/special teams touchdown in the Greg Schiano era when junior CB Brandon Bing (Wyncote, Pa.) blocked a punt and senior SS Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) scooped it up and scored from three yards out.
The score marked the third-straight game Rutgers has posted a defensive/special teams touchdown. It was the fourth such score in the last three games.
The Rutgers defense limited Norfolk State to 156 yards of total offense, the fewest since RU surrendered just 126 yards of total offense against Texas Southern on Oct. 10, 2009.
RU also allowed just 25 rushing yards by Norfolk State, the lowest rushing yardage since the Scarlet Knights held Texas Southern to -25 yards on Oct. 10, 2009.
Rutgers finished the game with 268 yards rushing (5.4 yards per attempt) and 422 yards of total offense.
Rutgers held Norfolk State without a third down conversion the entire game (0-for-12). On offense, the Scarlet Knights converted 6-of-14 third down opportunities.
The attendance of 46,311 was the sixth-largest in Rutgers Stadium history.
Player Notes
Senior SS Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) scored his third career touchdown when he recovered a third-quarter blocked punt and returned it three yards for the score. Lefeged returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown against West Virginia on Dec. 5, 2009 (RU’s previous game at Rutgers Stadium) and returned a fumble 58 yards for a score against Army on Nov. 22, 2008.
Junior RB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game with 109 yards on 20 carries. He also posted RU’s first touchdown of the season. Martinek had 54 yards on four carries on the touchdown drive, capping the drive with the six-yard plunge into the end zone.
Senior CB Brandon Bing (Wyncote, Pa.) recorded the first two blocked punts in his career. Both blocked punts led to RU scores as the Scarlet Knights recovered the first one and recorded a field goal off the turnover and Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) scooped up the second one and returned it for a touchdown.
Junior PK San San Te (Conover, N.C.) provided the first points of the 2010 season for the Scarlet Knights with a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter. He also connected on a 20-yard field goal to cap the second quarter and a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The three field goals tied his career-high for field goals made in a game. It is the fifth time he has posted three field goals in a game.
Senior DT Alex Silvestro (Gibbstown, N.J.) posted a career-high four tackles-for-loss.
Sophomore LB Steve Beauharnais (Saddle Brook, N.J.) matched his career-high in tackles with seven in the contest. He also had seven tackles twice previously against West Virginia (12/5/09) and UCF (12/19). It was the third-straight game he has recorded seven stops.
Junior DT Eric LeGrand (Avenel, N.J.) posted Rutgers’ first fumble recovery of the season. It was LeGrand’s third career fumble recovery.
True freshman RB Jordan Thomas (Endicott, N.Y.) made his first career appearance on Rutgers’ second offensive play from scrimmage and caught a 13-yard pass on the play. He finished the game with two receptions for 19 yards. Thomas also carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards.
True freshman QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.) made his collegiate debut during the fourth quarter and completed the only pass he threw – a nine-yard gain to redshirt freshman TE Paul Carrezola (Langhorne, Pa.). The reception was also the first of Carrezola’s career.
Junior TE Evan Lampert (Montvale, N.J.) recorded his first career start as Rutgers lined up in a two tight-end set to open the game on offense.
Five true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen saw their first career action in Thursday’s season opener.
New players
True freshman WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.)
True freshman QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.)
True freshman RB Jordan Thomas (Endicott, N.Y.)
True freshman LB Marcus Thompson (Oakland Park, Fla.)
True freshman OL Betim Bujari (Secaucus, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman TE Malcolm Bush (Englewood, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman TE Paul Carrezola (Langhorne, Pa.)
Redshirt freshman WR Aaron Hayward (Carneys Point, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman DL Isaac Holmes (Hoboken, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman LS Robert Jones (West Caldwell, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman DL Michael Larrow (Union, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman OL Antwan Lowery (Miami, Fla.)
Redshirt freshman OL Matt McBride (Hicksville, N.Y.)
Redshirt freshman OLDavid Osei (Abington, Pa.)
Redshirt freshman LB Jamil Merrell (Bear, Del.)
Redshirt freshman DB Logan Ryan (Berlin, N.J.)
Redshirt freshman H Kyle Sullivan (Hockessin, Del.)
