PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Sophomore Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) had a career-high 191 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough, as Rutgers (2-2) dropped a 17-14 decision to Tulane (2-2) Saturday afternoon at Rutgers Stadium in the annual homecoming game. The Scarlet Knights had the advantage in total yards and time of possession in a contest which saw Tulane reap the benefits of positive field position.

Senior linebacker Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) had 13 total tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss to pace a Rutgers defense that limited Tulane to just 37 rushing yards and a 3-of-13 mark on third down conversions.

Rutgers wasted little time posting the game's first points. On the second play from scrimmage deep in RU territory, Sanu faked a handoff out of the wildcat formation and proceeded to race through the middle of the Green Wave defense. With defenders in chase, the playmaker dove into the end zone from two yards-out to cap the 91-yard scoring scamper in dramatic fashion. It marked the longest rush in school history.

Sanu's record-breaking rush was the only score of the opening stanza. He would finish the day rushing for 121 yards on nine carries for a 13.4 average on the ground.

Tulane got on the scoreboard via a 39-yard field with 14:19 showing on the second quarter clock. The kick culminated an eight-play, 30-yard possession that began on the Tulane 48-yard line.

The Green Wave took its first lead of the afternoon shortly afterwards via advantageous field position once again. A two-yard Jason Peyton touchdown carry capped a five play, 33-yard drive and provided the visitors a 10-7 edge with 9:47 to go before halftime.

A late offensive effort by the Scarlet Knights - highlighted by a weaving, 10-yard first down reception by Kordell Young (West Deptford, N.J.) - stalled and RU entered the locker room at the midpoint trailing by a field goal. The home squad established a 171-103 advantage in total yards and limited TU to a long drive of 33 yards.

Tulane increased its lead to 10 points on its second series of the second half. Playing on a short field after gaining possession on the RU 43-yard line, the Green Wave entered the end zone on four plays. Quarterback Joe Kemp was on the receiving end of a halfback pass from slot receiver D.J. Banks and Tulane led 17-7 with 9:28 remaining in the third quarter.

Facing a double-digit deficit at home for the first time this season, Rutgers responded in definitive fashion. With freshman signal-caller Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.) under center, the Scarlet Knights engineered a 12-play, 55-yard drive to hit pay dirt. Faced with a fourth-and-six, Dodd connected with fellow rookie Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.)on a first down pass to extend the series, which culminated in another highlight play from Sanu. Dodd and Sanu hooked up on a 10-yard touchdown pass, as the multi-talented wideout dismissed yet another tackler before crossing the plane. Rutgers trailed 17-14 with the third quarter clock winding to a close.

Unfortunately for the 47,963 Scarlet faithful in attendance, the fourth quarter was scoreless. Rutgers had ventures into Tulane territory late in the contest that stalled.

The Scarlet Knights returns to the gridiron on Friday (Oct. 8) to host BIG EAST foe Connecticut in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Rutgers Stadium. The contest will be televised live on ESPN.

POSTGAME NOTES

Team Notes

Rutgers fell to 2-2 on the season with a 17-14 loss to Tulane on Homecoming Saturday afternoon at Rutgers Stadium.

Rutgers, which entered the game 14th in the nation in rushing defense at 94.33 rushing yards allowed per game, held Tulane to just 37 yards on 28 carries. The Scarlet Knights have allowed just 80.0 yards rushing per contest through four games this season.

The 37 yards rushing by Tulane tied for the 12th fewest in a game during the Greg Schiano era at Rutgers.

RU has held three opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in a game this season.

Opponent Carries Yards

Norfolk State 24 25

FIU 36 167

North Carolina 30 91

Tulane 28 37

Total 118 320

RU held Tulane to a season-low 245 total yards in the contest.

Rutgers, which entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in third-down efficiency defense, held Tulane to just 3-for-13 on third downs in the contest. For the season, the Scarlet Knights' defense has held opponents to 57-of-191 (29.8%) on third downs.

The Scarlet Knights, who entered the game ranked 25th nationally in kickoff return average at 25.7 yards per return, brought back four kickoffs for 93 yards (23.3 yards per return) against Tulane.

The Rutgers defense recorded a season-high nine tackles-for-loss divided up amongst nine Scarlet Knights. The total is the most since RU posted 11 tackles-for-loss in the St. Petersburg Bowl against UCF on Dec. 19, 2009.

The Scarlet Knights moved to 52-26-1 all-time in Homecoming games, including an 8-2 mark under head coach Greg Schiano. The setback ends a streak of six consecutive victories in Homecoming games. RU's last Homecoming loss occurred on Oct. 18, 2003 against Pittsburgh, 42-32.

Player Notes

Sophomore WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) rushed 91 yards for a first-quarter touchdown out of the wildcat. It was the longest run from scrimmage in school history, surpassing the old mark of 90 yards shared by Ray Rice (vs. Ball State in the International Bowl on Jan. 5, 2008) and Chad Bosch (vs. Temple on Oct. 26, 1996).

Sanu finished the game with a career-high 191 all-purpose yards (121 rushing yards on nine carries, 70 receiving yards on five catches). His previous career-high was 158 yards (13 rushes for 47 yards, six receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown, and one punt return for six yards) against West Virginia on Dec. 5, 2009.

Sanu posted the second 100-yard rushing game of his career with 121 yards on nine carries against the Green Wave. Sanu rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 18 carries with two rushing touchdowns at Louisville on Nov. 27 of last season.

It is the second 100-yard rushing performance by a Scarlet Knight this season. Junior RB Joe Martinek (Hopatcong, N.J.) rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries in the season opener against Norfolk State on Sept. 2.

Sanu's 91-yard rushing touchdown against Tulane was his third rushing touchdown in as many games and eighth of his career.

True freshman QB Chas Dodd (Lyman, S.C.) entered the game in the second quarter and finished the game 13-fof-29 for 176 yards and a touchdown. It was his third game he has played in this season. He set career-highs in each category. Dodd connected on his first career touchdown with a 10-yard strike to WR Mohamed Sanu (South Brunswick, N.J.) and completed a career-long 25-yard pass to WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.) in the second half.

True freshman WR Jeremy Deering (Tampa, Fla.) recorded his first career start in the Tulane contest. Deering is one of two first-year Scarlet Knights along with RB Jordan Thomas (Endicott, N.Y.) to appear in each of the first four games of the season.

After making his first career reception last week against North Carolina, Deering totaled four receptions for 66 yards, including a career-long 25-yarder against Tulane. The true freshman wide receiver also recorded his first career carries out of the wildcat, amassing four yards on five rushes.

Senior Colin McEvoy (Hillsdale, N.J.) posted his first career reception, hauling in a 12-yard reception in the fourth quarter, at fullback.

Senior LB Antonio Lowery (Miami, Fla.) totaled a career-high 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss against the Green Wave. His previous career-high tackle total was 12 against Pittsburgh on Oct. 16, 2009.

Junior LB Manny Abreu's (Union City, N.J.) 2.0 tackles for loss were a career-best.