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By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - It's a simple formula that has served Rutgers well for years now: Effective running game and solid run defense usually equal a victory.

Able to return to that equation, Rutgers delighted a Homecoming crowd of 46,136 at High Point Solutions Stadium with a 27-14 victory over Kansas by pounding a trio of running backs at the Big 12 visitors and then stuffing a running attack that had been averaging a tick under 240 yards per game coming in.

"This is kind of what the program is built on: Run the ball and stop the run," said fifth-year senior running back Paul James. "Those are almost always the keys to success for us and we did a good job with that today."

The Scarlet Knights (2-2) churned out a season-high 312 rushing yards, had a pair of 100-yard rushers and held Kansas to 64 rushing yards on 29 carries - a 2.2-yard average. Nearly two-thirds of that rushing total was the result of a 41-yard run by De'Andre Mann.

"Three hundred and twelve rushing yards? I would say today was a good day," said running back Josh Hicks. "Today was an awesome day for us."

Hicks led the way with 113 yards and two touchdowns, with Robert Martin adding 102 yards and James 57 on just nine carries. It marked the second time in their careers that Hicks and Martin - both sophomores - have rushed for 100 yards in the same game.

"It's huge for us to get production like that from the running game," said tight end Matt Flanagan, who had his third touchdown catch of the season. "It's something that's the foundation of our offense, having a good running game. Today we had a bunch of guys who were ticked off about how we performed last week. So we wanted to come out and run the ball against these guys. We had a great week leading into this and a great game plan.

"We always say if we're going to win games we need to run the football and stop the run. That's where it starts for us."

Rutgers rolled to a 20-7 halftime lead as quarterback Chris Laviano threw touchdown passes to Carlton Agudosi and Flanagan, with Hicks adding a one-yard run, and the Scarlet Knights extended the advantage to 27-7 in the third quarter. That was when Hicks finished a 12-play, 84-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

Able to keep the ball for 37:59, Rutgers controlled the clock and the game.

"It's very important for them all to be on their game and feel good about themselves," said interim head coach Norries Wilson of the running backs, a position he oversees. "(Paul) averaged 6.3 (yards) a carry today and Robert averaged 6.0 and Josh had 5.4. That's a good across the board average for the three of them.

"To know that we can get that from any of the three of them when they go out there, that's fantastic and makes us confident and makes us more confident in who is out there at a given time."

Laviano did his part in the 513-yard offensive output by going 18-of-25 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. But it was the running game that really stood out, helping the Scarlet Knights to also overcome three turnovers (though one was a heave into the end zone the last play of the first half) and 10 penalties.

"We didn't have a particularly good game on any side of the offense last weekend," said Laviano. "The running backs were included in that along with everyone else on the offense. They were definitely hungry today."

Laviano made sure to keep all of his receivers happy as well, connecting with nine different players. Andre Patton led the receiving group with five catches for 53 yards, while Agudosi's touchdown catch was the first of his career.

Kansas was within 13-7 midway through the second quarter before Hicks' first touchdown run just before halftime made it 20-7. Rutgers had all of the scoring it needed when Hicks scored again, this time with 9:24 left in the third quarter, to make it 27-7.

The Jayhawks' second and final score came on a one-yard run with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter.

As good as the offense was, the defense was just as impressive against the run. Kansas had averaged 4.9 yards per carry through its first two games before being limited to 2.2 by Rutgers' defense.

"Guys just came out ready to play," said linebacker Steve Longa. "We came out ready to play from the first snap. I'll give that to our preparation. The coaching staff emphasized getting to the ball, pushing the pile back, and if one guy missed there were two or three other guys around the ball. I think it showed out there today."

Rutgers has next Saturday off before starting Big Ten play when No. 2-ranked Michigan State visits on Oct. 10.