Rutgers Football Smokes Buffalo

PISCATAWAY, NJ - As Rutgers embarked on its 137th, and perhaps the most anticipated, football season in its history, there was a sense of confidence, yet tension.

Ray Rice, and Tiquan Underwood relieved some of that Thursday night.

Rice ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, and Underwood received for a single game school record 248, and scored twice as Rutgers rolled to a 38-3 win over Buffalo in front of a sold out crowd of 43,097 at Rutgers Stadium.

Rice scored on the third play from scrimmage, a mere 1:28 into the Scarlet Knights season.

“It felt pretty good,” the junior running back said. “It is special for me and special for the O line to score on the first drive.”

Quarterback Mike Teel controlled the Scarlet Knight offense, by throwing for a career high 328 yards. Teel was replaced midway through the fourth by backup quarterback Jabu Lovelace.

“He looked comfortable with what we are doing,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said. “Michael played very well within himself.”

But the night belonged to Underwood. With Buffalo keying on Rice, and number one receiver Kenny Britt, the slot receiver broke his personal best by catching ten passes including a jaw dropping 65 yard touchdown in the first quarter, that made the game 21-0 and nearly broke Buffalo cornerback Kendric Hawkins ankles twice.

“He made some great plays,” Schiano said of Underwood. “We’ve got some receivers here.”

Underwood added a 66-yarder for good measure, one that he juggled twice held onto and ran the distance to make the game 28-0.

The Knights defense held Buffalo just 74 first half yards, and 235 for the game.

“You have to give them a lot of credit,” Buffalo coach Taylor Gill said. “Their ‘D’ was good last year and they look good this year.”

Rutgers offense was only stopped by itself, as the Knights didn’t punt in the game. Rice fumbled in the second quarter, and kicker Jeremy Ito missed a pair of field goals, including one from 56 yards.

“They have great balance on offense,” Gill said. “They are more potent this year. They have more weapons.”

“We’ve been working all offseason to get out there,” Rice said. “Today we ran on all cylinders.”

Rice’s 184 yards put him over the 3,000 yard mark, he currently sits in second place all-time in school history, just 17 yards shy of first place. Jeremy Willis is the current leader.

Rice scored his third and final touchdown of the night with relative ease as he broke through the secondary and scored from 41 yards out. Kordell Young replaced Rice midway through the fourth.

“He’s one of the best backs in the country,” Gill said of Rice.

Schiano took pride and sensed the excitement of the crowd, which was the third largest in Rutgers Stadium history.

“We used to have those crowds in here for bigger schools,” Schiano said. “I told the guys earlier, that these people are coming to see you play.”

Gill also had high praise for the Knights.

“They’re a great football team. They’re going to be a force to be reckon with in the conference and in nation.”

Rutgers will be back in action next Friday against Navy at Rutgers Stadium. The game will appear on ESPN at 7 p.m.

“They’re a completely different team,” Schiano said of Navy.

Buffalo will play their first MAC conference game next Saturday when they go to Temple.

NEWS & NOTES

Jeremy Ito kicked a fourth quarter field goal to finish the night 1-for-3 on field goals. Ito missed a 40-yarder at the end of the first quarter and missed a 56-yarder at the end of the second.

Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy was 19-32 and threw for 165 yards. Starting tailback James Starks ran 19 times for just 40 yards.

Lovelace ran 45 yards. He was 0-2 on passes. Britt caught four passes for 59 yards, Rice also had two receptions. The last time Rutgers scored 21 points in the first quarter was Sept. 27, 1980, that was against Princeton and was also the last time they played Princeton. The only two crowds larger than Thursday’s both came in 2006. The biggest was Nov. 9, 2006 vs. Louisville, and the second largest was Nov. 25, 2006 vs. Syracuse.