Oct. 5, 2014 By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - There wasn't a person associated with the Rutgers football time who minded that the pathway to the locker room after last night's Michigan game was impassable because of a sea of fans who engulfed the field. Rather than fight it, they all basked in it - a pure joy that comes with a first-time accomplishment.
The Scarlet Knights had just won the first Big Ten game in school history last night, and did so in a manner befitting this team: With a hint of pizzazz but mostly because of a lot of hard effort and a stubborn determination.
So they were more than happy to take part in the celebration in the immediate aftermath of a 26-24 victory over Michigan, as a good portion of the sellout crowd of 53,327 at High Point Solutions Stadium made their way onto the field to help usher in some history.
"That was a great reaction by our fans," said middle linebacker Kevin Snyder. "They were a huge part of this win."
So was senior quarterback Gary Nova, who just three weeks ago felt he was largely responsible for turning what was supposed to be a memorable evening against Penn State into a forgettable one. And so was pass rushing/kick blocking specialist Kemoko Turay, the breathlessly talented redshirt freshman who has a knack for showing up at just the right time.
Nova threw for a career-high 404 yards and three touchdowns and Turay, his left-arm fully extended, blocked Michigan's 56-yard try on a potential go-ahead field goal with 3:07 to play to secure the victory.
And that ignited Pandemonium in Piscataway 2.0.
"I did tell the team this: they got a chance tonight to be a part of something no other football team will ever get a chance to be a part of, because this was the first (Big Ten victory)," said head coach Kyle Flood. "When it happens for the first time it's special. It's something the University will remember and the state will remember, but this team got a chance to actually be a part of it.
"And it's a great memory they get to take for the rest of their lives."
The immediate effect is that Rutgers is now 5-1 overall (1-1 in Big Ten play) heading into a bye week.
"I'm excited for (Nova)," said wide receiver Leonte Carroo, Nova's former high school teammate. "I'm pretty sure after the Penn State game he was down. But for this big game I could tell the moment we got off the bus that Gary was ready. He was pumping guys up, he was excited. But at the same time he was relaxed and calm and ready to go."
Nova's first 400-yard passing game came on the heels of become Rutgers' career leader in touchdown passes a week ago. He was turnover-free, answered every Michigan touchdown he had to and showed some nifty moves as a runner at two key junctures.
"It feels great, especially the way we did it in all three phases," Nova said. "Guys came ready to play today and it showed."
What made Nova's performance even more impressive is that it was needed on a night when the running game struggled to get traction until the final, clock-bleeding drive (finishing with a season-low 74 yards on 30 carries).
"Every time we needed Gary to come through with a drive he did," said Andrew Turzilli, who caught two touchdown passes, one an 80-yarder.
The first time it was needed was after the Wolverines (2-4 and 0-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1967) built a 10-6 second quarter lead. Nova was able to put the Scarlet Knights back in front again at 12-10 (the extra point was blocked) in one play - the 80-yard touchdown strike to Turzilli.
When Michigan reclaimed the lead at 17-12 Nova responded with 75-yard drive that included two crucial third down completions.
The second occurred on a third and goal from the Michigan seven yardline, with defensive lineman Frank Clark exploding through the line to barrel down on Nova. He sidestepped the defender, almost appearing to shrug him off after backpedaling to the 21 yard line, before firing a touchdown pass to John Tsimis.
That gave Rutgers a 19-17 lead with 22 seconds left before halftime.
"We had a little miscommunication up front and their guy came loose, probably their best player too," said Nova. I should have thrown it away. But I was able to buy myself a little time and I saw John and I was able to stick it in there.
"You definitely don't want to take a sack there."
Rutgers was able to pad its lead to 26-17 on Nova's 14-yard scoring pass to Turzilli in the third quarter before Michigan, behind quarterback Devin Gardner and a revived running game, came storming back.
Gardner's 19-yard scramble for a touchdown with 9:17 to play made it 26-24 and the Wolverines looked to be on the move again late, needing only a field goal to win.
But a third and nine pass by Gardner to Amara Darboh that would have been good for a Michigan first down at the Rutgers 30 yard line was ruled incomplete - and confirmed by replay.
That forced a fourth and nine, with Michigan coach Brady Hoke opting to go for a 56-yard field goal with 3:07 to play.
Kemoko, who leads the Big Ten in sacks, snuffed that out by blocking his third kick of the season. Rutgers was then able to run out the final 3:01.
"In practice I was messing up a lot (on block tries)," said Turay. "I was timing the kicker wrong. But this time I had it down. I was going too fast. I had to slow it down a little.
"I was really confident. I went as high as I could and got the block."
"The whole night was great," said Nova. "It's something you remember forever. It's one of the reasons you play college football, for days like this."
