Game 2: Football vs. Washington State
Sep 07 | Football
RUTGERS (1-0) VS. WASHINGTON STATE (0-1)
September 12, 2015 • 3:30 p.m.
High Point Solutions Stadium
• Notes: Game 2 
• Coach Flood News Conference
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPNU & WatchESPN
Rutgers vs. Washington State will broadcast on ESPNU with play-by-play announcer Roy Philpott and color analyst Tom Ramsey.
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network
WCTC-1450-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WTMR 800-AM ESPN NY - 98.7 FM
Satellite Radio: Sirius 136 and XM 196
The Rutgers IMG Sports Network pregame show begins at 2:30 p.m. with hosts Marc Malusis and David Milewski. Game broadcast starts at 3:30 p.m. with Chris Carlin, Ray Lucas and Eric LeGrand in the booth. Anthony Fucilli will provide sideline coverage.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• Rutgers and Washington State will meet for the second time in the team's history. The Scarlet Knights hold a 1-0 advantage in the series.
• The Scarlet Knights defeated the Cougars 41-38 on the road to open the 2014 season in Seattle.
• Washington State dropped its season opener to Portland State, 24-17.
• WSU is the first Pac-12 team to play at High Point Solutions Stadium since California in 2001.
NEWS AND NOTES
• Kyle Flood is 11-1 in games played in September, winning by a combined mark of 375-166.
• Rutgers is 48-5 since 2000 when holding opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense.
• Since 2000, the Scarlet Knights are 54-18 when going over the 150-yard mark on the ground.
• Since 2000, Rutgers is 49-15 when holding the opponent below 100 yards rushing in a game.
• Since 2000, Rutgers is 25-3 when limiting the opponent to less than 50 yards rushing in a game.
• Rutgers completed 13-of-15 passes against Norfolk State, the best percentage since going 20-for-23 in 2010 at USF.
• Rutgers reached over 200 yards both rushing and passing in the opener. That happened twice last year against Washington State and Indiana.
FIRST COLLEGIATE ACTION
• Eighteen Scarlet Knights saw their first Divison I collegiate action against Norfolk State: DB Ronnie James, DB Saquan Hampton, DB Blessuan Austin, QB Hayden Rettig, DB Isaiah Wharton, LB Trevor Morris, DB Jarius Adams, LB Deonte Roberts, LB Eric Margolis, LB Isaiah Johnson, OL Tariq Cole, OL Marcus Applefield, OL Zack Heeman, DL Eric Wiafe, DL Jon Bateky, DL Jimmy Hogan, DL Kevin Wilkins, TE Anthony Folkerts.
OFFENSE
• Rutgers leads the nation in team passing efficiency after week one.
• The offense allowed zero sacks against Norfolk State and has relinquished just two over the last five games dating back to last year.
• Rutgers put up 63 points vs. Norfolk State, the most for the team since scoring that many against Louisville in a 2008 win. It was the highest number of points in a season opener since tallying 68 versus Colgate in 1993.
• The 63-point total was also the highest number under head coach Kyle Flood, surpassing the 55 recorded in a 2013 win at SMU.
• Rutgers totaled 539 yards on offense, the most since putting up 543 in the 2013 opener at Fresno State. It was the second consecutive game going over 500, as the Scarlet Knights racked up 524 in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Quarterbacks
Chris Laviano
• Completed all four pass attempts against Norfolk State with three touchdown passes to Leonte Carroo.
• First pass of the season was a 56-yard touchdown pass, first career score.
Hayden Rettig
• Made his collegiate debut in the win over Norfolk State and went 9-for-11 with 110 yards and one passing touchdown … also rushed twice for 17 yards with a 5-yard running score.
• Became just the sixth different quarterback to start a game for the Scarlet Knights since the start of the 2006 season (excluding starting the wildcat formation) … the others during that stretch were Mike Teel, Tom Savage, Domenic Natale, Chas Dodd and Gary Nova.
Running Backs
Paul James
• James reached 1,000 career rushing yards on his 56-yard touchdown run in the second quarter at Washington State. It took him 174 carries to reach the mark. By comparison, it took Ray Rice 170 career rushes to obtain 1,000 yards (2005 vs. Cincinnati).
Josh Hicks
• Ran for 118 yards against Norfolk State for his third career 100-yard game and second straight since rushing for 202 in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Wide Receivers
Leonte Carroo
• Scored a touchdown on his first reception of the year for the third consecutive season, totaling 14 catches, 415 yards and seven touchdowns in the last three season openers.
• Set the school record with 22 career receiving touchdowns in 24 career games at wide receiver.
• Averaging a touchdown every 3.9 receptions (86 receptions, 22 touchdowns) in his career.
• Tied for third in school history with nine career 100-yard receiving games.
• Registered at least one reception in last 21games played.
• Owns eight career multiple-touchdown games and three with three scores. No other player in RU history has two games with three touchdowns scored.
DEFENSE
• Rutgers leads the nation in rushing defense after week one.
• Rutgers held Norfolk State to -3 yards rushing, the sixth-lowest mark permitted since 2000. It was also the sixth time an opponent registered negative rushing yards during that span and the first time since the record of -25 in 2009 versus Texas Southern.
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed Since 2000
1. (-25) vs. Texas Southern 10/10/09
2. (-23) vs. Cincinnati 11/26/05
3. (-11) vs. Pittsburgh 9/30/05
4. (-7) vs. Buffalo 9/9/00
5. (-6) vs. Ohio 9/16/06
6. (-3) vs. Norfolk State 9/5/15
7. 3 vs. Virginia Tech 12/28/12
8. 6 at Washington State 8/28/14
9. 8 at Tulane 9/1/12
20. 10 vs. USF 12/17/1
Defensive Line
Darius Hamilton
• Leads current team with 24.5 career tackles-for-loss and 10.5 sacks.
Linebackers
Steve Longa
• Has led or tied for team lead in tackles in 18 of 27 career games.
• Leads active team with 229 career tackles.
• Owns nine games with at least 10 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Since 2009, Rutgers has blocked 42 kicks on special teams. The Scarlet Knights have blocked at least four kicks every year since 2007. The 42 blocked kicks are the most by any team in the NCAA during that span.
Janarion Grant
• Ranks fourth in school history with 1,544 kickoff return yards and fifth with 60 returns.
• Has three career touchdowns on special teams (two kickoff return, one punt return).
Kyle Federico
• Converted 16-of-21 field goals, the eight-most made in a season in program history last year. The percentage of 76.2 ranked third in a single season in school history (minimum 15 attempts).
• Made 11-of-12 attempts inside 40 yards in 2014.
• Had a field goal in 12 different games last year and has made at least one in 17 of his last 19 games.
• Owns 34 career makes, ranking sixth in the school record books.
• Career percentage of 68 ranks sixth (minimum 29 attempts)
• Has led team in points the last two seasons (70 in 2013, 89 in 2014).
• Hit a career-long of 52 yards at USF in 2012.
Kemoko Turay
• Has three career block kicks which tied for the most in the NCAA last season.
• Helped seal victory and first-ever Big Ten win with a block on Michigan's go-ahead 56-yard field goal attempt.
2015 RUTGERS TEAM CAPTAINS
• Rutgers named four captains for the 2015 season with two-time captain Darius Hamilton along with Leonte Carroo, Paul James and Quentin Gause.
• Hamilton is the first Rutgers defensive player to be named a two-time captain since Eric Foster (2006-07). He is the ninth two-time captain in the previous 20 years.
PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
• Rutgers redshirt senior running back Paul James was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the nation's top running back.
• Rutgers senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo was named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation's outstanding college football receiver.
• Carroo was also named to the watch list for the 79th annual Maxwell Award, given to the America's College Player of the Year.
• Rutgers senior Darius Hamilton was selected to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, presented annually to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman, including centers, offensive guards, offensive tackles and defensive tackles.
• Hamilton also earned a spot on the 21st annual Bednarik Award list, which is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year.
• Rutgers redshirt junior linebacker Steve Longa was named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award. The award is given annually to the college football lineman or linebacker who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.
• Rutgers senior linebacker Quentin Gause was nominated for the 2015 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has recognized college football players from across the country who exemplifies a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.
• Rutgers junior Janarion Grant was named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, bestowed to the most versatile player in major college football.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
• The Rutgers football program posted a multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 980 for the 2013-14 academic year, the NCAA announced.
• The Scarlet Knights ranked in the top ten percentile (12th overall in the FBS) for the eighth-straight year, receiving public recognition for their academic performance.
• Rutgers was one of 14 FBS schools ranked in the top ten percentile, including one of five Big Ten institutions. The Scarlet Knights were also the lone state university on the list to receive eight nods for their academic progress rate.
• Rutgers football placed 27 students on the Big Ten All-Academic Team, the fourth-most among the conference teams.
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
• For the fourth-straight year, head coach Kyle Flood served as the honorary coach for Special Olympics NJ, while 20 Scarlet Knights joined the athletes for the opening ceremony. Flood also participated in a leg of the Unified Relay Across America, carrying the Olympic torch for the World Summer Games. Rutgers has maintained a longstanding relationship with Special Olympics NJ, dating back over a decade.
RUTGERS CAPTURES LAMBERT CUP
• Following an 8-5 record in 2014 and Quick Lane Bowl victory, Rutgers earned the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy, emblematic of the top team in the East in the Bowl Subdivision, for the first time in the 79-year history of the award. Established in 1936 as the Lambert Trophy to recognize supremacy in Eastern college football, the award has since grown to recognize the best team in the East in the Bowl Subdivision.
BOWL TRADITION
• Rutgers earned its ninth bowl appearance in the past 10 seasons with a trip to the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. The 40-21 victory over North Carolina gave the Scarlet Knights their sixth bowl championship, moving the program to 6-4 all-time in postseason play.
• Rutgers is one of 20 teams in the power five conference to reach a bowl game in at least nine of the last 10 seasons (Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, West Virginia, Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Oregon, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina).
• The Scarlet Knights are one of four Big Ten teams to be bowl eligible in nine of the previous ten seasons joining Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
SCARLET KNIGHTS IN THE NFL
• Rutgers continued its reputation of preparing players for the National Football League as TE Tyler Kroft and FB Michael Burton became the newest members to join the list of NFL Knights. Kroft was a third round selection (85th overall) of the Cincinnati Bengals, while Burton was taken in the fifth round (168th overall).
• There are currently 19 former Scarlet Knights playing on nine different teams in the NFL.
