Behind Ferocious Defense, Knights Pound Panthers

Four takeaways, six sacks and growing confidence, Knights shatter Pittsburgh, 34-10.

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Gary Nova is the Scarlet Knights quarterback, whether the fans like it or not. The true freshman got the start tonight and, after battling a handful of first half hiccups, led his team to an exciting upset over Big East rivals Pittsburgh. The defense forced four more turnovers and continues to lead the country in forced turnovers. Rutgers cornerback Logan Ryan hauled in two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, Steve Beauharnis tallied his second in as many games, and safety Duron Harmon tallied his fourth interception of the season, remaining among the nation’s leaders in that category.

Pittsburgh scored first, marching down the field for a field goal. But they were held hush from then on and through the third quarter. The Knights struggled as well, tallying six first half points to hold a three-point advantage at the intermission. Once again, Rutgers struggled and didn’t score to start the second half. But after the teams traded possessions, Beauharnis intercepted Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback Trey Anderson deep in Pittsburgh’s own territory. After a Panther penalty, the Knights capitalized and Nova hooked up with wide receiver Mark Harrison for a touchdown.

The teams traded possessions again, before late in the third quarter, Nova found his fullback Joe Martinek for a screen play that went the distance for a sixty yard touchdown.

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Pittsburgh answered almost immediately as Heisman candidate running back Ray Graham totaled 82 yards on a four-play touchdown drive to keep Pittsburgh in the game. But the momentum shifted immediately, as Rutgers kick returner Jeremy Deering took the ensuing kickoff seventy-three yards to the Pittsburgh fourteen yardline. Freshman running back Savon Huggins took the ball three times, scoring on the final play to enhance the advantage to seventeen again. Huggins, showing great burst, finished with forty-two yards and a touchdown on just ten carries. His fellow running back, Jawan Jamison, ran the ball twenty-one times for forty-four yards.

The Knights weren’t done just yet though, as, after the teams swapped possessions, Logan Ryan intercepted Tino Sunseri and took it all the way back to push the lead to twenty-four. It would remain that way until the fat lady hit the recording studio.

Chas Dodd, the previous Rutgers starting quarterback, did not see action, while Nova tallied 174 yards and two touchdowns. Rutgers’ record-setting wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was held to just two catches for twenty-seven yards, his first game of the season without a touchdown. Rutgers placekicker San San Te rebounded after an inconsistent game against Syracuse a week ago to connect on two long field goals, one from fifty yards and the other from forty-four. Meanwhile, for the opposition, Pittsburgh’s Graham ran for 165 yards and a touchdown, but was held quiet aside from massive runs of sixty-five, twenty-three, and twenty-four.

Rutgers (4-1, 2-0) hosts Navy next week, while Pittsburgh (3-3, 1-1) returns home to face Utah.

By: Justin Sontupe
BigEast-fans.com Rutgers Correspondent