Rutgers - Syracuse game notes

Team Notes

Rutgers has won three straight games vs. Syracuse for the first time in series history with today’s 38-14 victory. The series began in 1914. The Scarlet Knights have won four of the last five meetings vs. the Orange, outscoring SU 162-78.

Rutgers became the final team in the Football Bowl Subdivision to play a road game today with its game inside the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

After falling behind, 14-0, Rutgers scored the game’s final 38 points, holding SU without a score for 51 minutes.

The Rutgers defense posted a season-high five sacks today.

Since the 2005 season, Rutgers is 6-2 in games following a loss.

Player Notes

With three touchdowns today, junior RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) has now scored a touchdown in 13 consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation.

With two first-half touchdowns and a fourth-quarter score, Rice moved into a tie with Amos Zereoue of West Virginia for fifth place in BIG EAST history in rushing touchdowns. He now has 38 rushing touchdowns for his career. It marked the 12th multiple touchdown game of his career. He has recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in four of six games this season.

Rice finished the game with 199 yards on 36 carries for the 18th 100-yard rushing game of his career. He is now one 100-yard performance shy of the all-time school record for 100-yard rushing games set by “JJ” Jennings (1971-73). Rice is now tied with Derrick Knight (2000-03) of Boston College for fifth in BIG EAST history in 100-yard rushing games.

Rice moved into third place in BIG EAST history in rushing yards after his performance today. His career total is now 3,732.

Rice also tied his career-high with four receptions for the third-straight week.

Sophomore WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) posted the third 100-yard receiving game of his career. He finished the game with 176 yards on six catches. He previously touched the century mark in receiving yards at West Virginia on Dec. 2, 2006 (10-119-0) and against Norfolk state on Sept. 15, 2007 (4-121-2).

Britt’s receiving yardage total of 176 (on six catches) is the eighth-highest single-game total in Rutgers history.

Junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) recorded the fourth 300-yard passing game of his career with 310 yards on 20-for-29 for the game. He has topped the 200-yard mark in his last eight games.

True freshman safety Joe Lefeged (Germantown, Md.) finished with a career-high six tackles, including the first two sacks of his career. His first sack caused an Andrew Robinson fumble which was recovered by fellow true freshman Jonathan Freeny (Margate, Fla.). The fumble recovery by Freeny was the first of his career. Freeny also recorded his first-ever interception with a fourth quarter pick.

Junior TE Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.) hauled in a 32-yard pass from Mike Teel in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown. Brock finished the game with three receptions for 47 yards.

Senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.) was 1-for-2 for field goals. After connecting on a 25-yarder in the first second quarter, he snapped his streak of nine consecutive field goals made with a miss from 37 yards on the final play of the first half. Ito is now 9-for-11 in field goal attempts this season.

True freshman RG Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) earned his first career start. He was the first true freshman to start on the offensive line for Rutgers since senior Jeremy Zuttah. Zuttah posted his first career start at guard on Nov. 25, 2004 against Connecticut. Davis’ starting assignment came two days after his 18th birthday (Oct. 11).

Senior FB Jean Beljour (Hackensack, N.J.) recorded his second career start. Beljour’s first career start (also at FB) came on Nov. 6, 2004 at Boston College.

Sophomore CB Devin McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) blocked his first career punt in the first quarter to setup Rice’s one-yard touchdown run.