Big First Half Helps Rutgers Hold On
Scarlet Knights Crack Top 10 In Coaches Poll For First Time This Season
10/19/2007
Written By: Kirk Herbstreit
ESPN NCAA Football Analyst
[New Brunswick, New Jersey]-- The first half of Saturday's game against USF proved to be the main drive for the Rutgers University offense, as they would put twenty of their thirty three points up in the first half. Mr. Steady,
Ray Rice scored twice in the first quarter, once on a run from forty four yards out, followed by a five yard touchdown reception from quarterback
Mike Teel. This was all after senior place kicker
Jeremy Ito nailed a thirty four yard field goal.
"We got ahead early, which is something we love to do," said head coach
Greg Schiano.
"Ray just did what he's been doing all season, making something happen out there on that field, it really gave us an emotional boost."
Sophomore cornerback
Leslie Jackman gave the Rutgers offense plenty of chances to expand their lead. He intercepted two passes on the day, his firsts of the season.
After Rutgers went into halftime up 20-14, the Scarlet Knights offense felt no need to stop there. They came out and started the scoring once again as Teel found senior tight end
Chris Rudanovic for the two yard touchdown, his first of the season.
"It was special, showing coach that I can be useful out there. Mike just did an awesome job finding me in the endzone," said Rudanovic.
"I'm primarily used as strictly a blocking tight end, so it was a bit of a shock to hear that I was actually running a route," laughed Rudanovic.
Ito would add his third field goal of the day on the next Rutgers possession, giving them a comfortable 30-14 lead. Once the defense stopped the USF offense, Mike Teel would hand off to Ray Rice where he would be hit in the backfield, coughing up the ball, and leading to a nineteen yard fumble return for a touchdown, bringing the score to 30-21.
USF wouldn't stop there. They got a twenty three yard pass to go for a touchdown, and then would kick off to Rutgers with just over three minutes remaining. Fortunately for all the R U fans, the combination of Ray Rice and
Kordell Young would be able to work the clock, and eventually lead to another Jeremy Ito field goal, his fourth of the day.
USF got the ball back once more though, with a chance to still win the game, only being down by five. However, two incomplete passes and another interception later, Rutgers offense had the ball back, and sophomore Kordell Young would come in to run out the clock and preserve the 33-28 victory for Rutgers.
Rutgers cracked the top 10 in the coaches poll for the first time all season after the win, being ranked number 10. However, they are still ranked number 12 in the BCS poll, something they hope to climb before the season is over.