Rutgers Ends Season With a Win
Thanks to a near-flawless defensive effort, a 131-yard rushing performance from Jawan Jamison, and an 86-yard scoring bomb to Brandon Coleman from Chas Dodd, Rutgers won for the second time at Yankee Stadium in a seven-week span, turning back Iowa State 27-13 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
BOX SCORE: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 13
“To be able to win it at home, it’s a lot of fun,” Schiano said after his team notched its fifth consecutive bowl win. “Really, really proud of our kids. We worked hard in preparation. Season certainly didn’t end the way we wanted with (the loss at) Connecticut. When you’re in New York City, that can be a distraction and a temptation, but they kind of know when it’s time to work, it’s time to work.”
A crowd of 38,328 — much of which was filled with scarlet-clad Rutgers fans — watched the Scarlet Knights rally from an early 6-0 deficit and cap a 9-4 campaign.
“The season didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but being able to finish on a strong note — and coming out here and winning — it’s huge,” said Dodd, who threw for 176 yards on 10-for-17 passing while splitting quarterback duties with Gary Nova.
Forced to carry the load in the absence of backup Jeremy Deering (ankle injury), Jamison scored from a yard out on fourth-and-goal and from 12 yards and San San Te shook off a long first-quarter miss by drilling a 21-yard field goal as Rutgers took a 17-6 advantage into intermission.
“I want to carry the load,” said Jamison, who was named the Pinstripe Bowl MVP after averaging 4.9 yards on 27 carries. “I want to be that guy that everybody can depend on. Thanks to my O-line, I was able to do that tonight.”
After yielding field goals on two of Iowa State’s first three series, Rutgers’ defense wrestled control for the middle two quarters. The Cyclones totaled 188 yards and converted just one of 10 first downs before mounting a charge early in the final stanza.
Jeff Woody’s 20-yard rushing score capped a nine-play, 76-yard march that pulled the Cyclones (6-7) within a touchdown with 10 minutes to play.
But after both teams exchanged three-and-outs, Dodd fired 40 yards deep to the 6-foot-6 Coleman, who outjumped his diminutive cornerback to haul in the reception before marching the final 46 yards for the final margin.
“I thought it was a great call by Frank,” Schiano said, referring to offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti. “We said going into the game we had a height advantage on their cornerbacks and we needed to make sure that we took enough shots down the field, and we did. That’s a huge turning point in the game.”
The Scarlet Knights never looked back from there, outgaining their Big 12 foe 369-311 in total yards from scrimmage and getting key plays in the specialty units, including a blocked field goal from Justin Francis, a 49.7 yards-per-punt average from Justin Doerner and field goals of 21 and 29 yards from Te.
“They believe in what (special teams) coach (Robb) Smith coaches,” Schiano said, “and they are willing to lay it on the line for him.”
As the game ended, Schiano enjoyed a cold Gatorade bath before hoisting his fifth bowl championship trophy in the past six years. He then looked up to the Yankee Stadium big screen, where he saw a live video of paralyzed player Eric LeGrand sitting in the radio booth.
“Hey ‘Big E,’ ” Schiano shouted over the stadium’s public-address microphone. “This one’s for you.”
The players then went to the Yankee Stadium warning track, where they sang in unison the school’s alma mater with the band providing the music. The Rutgers crowd then serenaded a chant of “one more year” to star wideout Mohamed Sanu, a junior who remains undecided on whether to return or declare early for the 2012 NFL Draft.
“That meant a lot,” said Sanu, who declined to offer a timeline on when he may decide. “I love our fans, I love playing for them, and I’m listening to some of the things they had to say.”
If there was a downside to the victory it was the sight of fourth-year junior linebacker Khaseem Greene suffering a serious ankle injury late in the fourth quarter. Greene, the Big East’s co-defensive player of the year who earlier this week opted not to declare early for the NFL Draft, said the injury “isn’t going to stop me from playing football.”
“I’ll be all right,” he said before marveling at the bowl victory. “This is just a special feeling to send the seniors off right. They set the foundation when they won their first bowl game. It was only right to send them off the way they started.”
