Nova & Burton at Medal of Honor Bowl
Jan 10 | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Both quarterback Gary Nova (Elmwood Park, N.J.) and fullback Michael Burton (Long Valley, N.J.) represented Rutgers football in a winning effort as the National team defeated the American squad, 26-14, Saturday in the second annual Medal of Honor Bowl. The game was held at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, S.C.
Nova made the start at quarterback and completed six passes for 85 yards, while Burton saw action on both special teams and on offense.
Ryan Williams (Miami, Fla.) threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Damiere Byrd (South Carolina) to spark a 20-0 surge in the second half, as the Nationals pulled off the victory. Williams earned National squad MVP honors after completing 7 of 15 passes for 115 yards and the team's only offensive touchdown of the game. The hookup with Byrd gave the Nationals the lead for good at 16-14 with 5:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Will Conant (Air Force) kicked four field goals, and Brison Williams (South Carolina) capped the second-half National uprising with a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:35 left in the game.
Quinn Backus (Coastal Carolina) won American team MVP honors with six tackles and an 87-yard pick six that gave his squad a 14-6 lead in the opening minute of the second quarter. Synjyn Days (Georgia Tech) scored the other American touchdown on a five-yard run with 8:46 left in the first quarter.
The National team held a 382-211 advantage in total offense.
Jake Waters (Kansas State) completed 9 of 21 passes for 71 yards for the American team, with David Frazier (Miami, Ohio) grabbing a team-high four receptions for 42 yards.
Brandon Wegher (Morningside) was the game's leading rusher with 90 yards on 14 carries, and Akeem Hunt (Purdue) ran for 30. NC State's Tony Creecy paced the American ground game with 44 yards, followed by The Citadel's Jake Stenson with 20.
Isaac Blakeney (Duke) led all receivers with five catches for 103 yards. Conant booted field goals of 27, 21, 33 and 36 yards, the latter upping the National lead to 19-14 with 1:28 left in the third quarter.
Shaq Riddick (West Virginia) highlighted the National defense with four tackles including two sacks, one of which resulted in a strip and his own recovery. Tank Jakes (Memphis), Brock Hekking (Nevada) and Jordan Williams (Tennessee) also had sacks for the Nationals.
Will Brown (Missouri S&T) led all tacklers with nine for the American team, and Jermaine Whitehead (Auburn) had a team-high six stops for the Nationals. Cariel Brooks (Adams State) contributed an interception for the Nationals.
