Matt Sugam on play-by-play for WRSU-FM
Kordell Young’s fourth quarter TD
[mp3remote]http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/audio/2010/10/18/rutgers2.mp3[/mp3remote]Harrison’s game-tying touchdown
[mp3remote]http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/audio/2010/10/18/rutgers3.mp3[/mp3remote]Martinek wins it in OT
[mp3remote]http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/audio/2010/10/18/rutgers1.mp3[/mp3remote]EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Despite a thrilling overtime win over Army, the Rutgers locker room had the vibe of a loss after the game.
And that’s because there was one.
Following the game-tying touchdown catch by Mark Harrison with 5:16 left in the game, Eric LeGrand laid a vicious hit on Army’s Malcolm Brown. Unfortunately it was LeGrand who suffered the brunt of the hit.
The defensive tackle lay motionless for several minutes before being carted off. LeGrand was immediately taken to Hackensack Medical Center.
A choked up head coach Greg Schiano—who headed to the hospital right after the press conference—requested to not go into detail about the injury.
“When you coach these kids, they’re your kids. That is the thing I don’t know if everybody gets. It’s not pro football,” Schiano said. “Those are our kids. You’re raising them. You’re finishing the job for their parents, so it’s tough.”
The Scarlet Knights were able to keep their composure in the 23–20 win despite losing one of their emotional leaders.
After holding Army (4–3) to a field goal on the first overtime, Rutgers (4–2) relied on the “ground and pound” to get the victory.
On a 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Rutgers let its bruiser at running back Joe Martinek do what he does best. Gain those tough yards in between the tackles.
“It’s something that running backs dream of growing up,“ said Martinek. ”One-yard line, going in to win the game.”
And despite the struggles of the offensive line—eight sacks and seemingly countless false starts—Martinek, who finished with 35 yards on 10 carries along with the touchdown, felt the game was on his shoulders.
“For me, I take it personally that if we don’t score, it’s my fault,” Martinek said. “So once we get that close and they call my number I’m going to do everything I can to get in the end zone.”
For the second straight week, true freshman Chas Dodd led a fourth quarter comeback. Down 14 in the first half, Rutgers didn’t get their first possession until 8:48 left in the third quarter.
They used the entire quarter to march down field, scoring on the first play in the fourth quarter when Dodd found running back Kordell Young in the front corner of the end zone to pull within a touchdown.
Then came Harrison’s game tying touchdown catch—his second in as many games—just under 10 minutes later.
“There’s no better feelings especially here at Giants stadium,” Harrison said. “It’s very exciting to do what I did and it feels good to come out and get the win.”
After two fourth quarter come backs in a row, Dodd—18 of 30 for 251 yards, two touchdowns and an interception—is making it difficult for the coaching staff to bench him once quarterback Tom Savage is healthy.
The undersized freshman is used to playing under pressure in big games, winning two state championships in South Carolina for Brynes High School. His trick is not to treat the game any differently come crunch time.
“I think it’s the same thing, staying focused and knowing what you have to do and going out there and leading the team,” Dodd said. “That’s what I’m trying to do and I feel like I’m doing it pretty well at just going out there and leading the team to victory.”
LeGrand Update
LeGrand received emergency surgery from doctors throughout the night at Hackensack University Medical Center to stabilize his spine. The injury occurred at the C3-C4 level.
He currently has no movement below the neck and is resting in the intensive care unit at the Hackensack University Medical Center where he will remain for the near future.
“I’ve talked to our team,” Schiano said. “We are going to believe that Eric LeGrand is going to walk onto that field again with us and that’s what we believe. We’ll see at the speed with which that happens.
“We’re grateful we’ve had a great outpouring across the state and our alums and fans and we’re grateful for them and just ask for their continued prayers.”
Big East
Rutgers has concluded its non-conference schedule and with a Big East that hasn’t looked like a BCS conference, the Knights have the opportunity to capitalize on the downtrodden league.
Already sitting at 1–0 with a win over UConn, Rutgers heads to Pittsburgh next week to take on the Panthers.
As inconsistent as Rutgers’ play has been, so has the rest of the teams in the Big East. There’s no better time than the present to take advantage of a weak conference.
Rutgers is only truly outmatched by West Virginia, who they close out the season against. Problem is, Rutgers hasn’t beaten the Mountaineers in a decade and a half and have never won in Morgantown, which is where they play this year.
Tune in every Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST on WRSU-FM as Matt Sugam co-hosts Scarlet Football Fever discussing Rutgers football as well as the N.Y. Jets and Giants.
