Media release: January 5, 2007
TORONTO, ONTARIO – Junior All-America RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had one of the finest individual outings in college football history, rushing for a career-high 280 yards and four touchdowns to help the Scarlet Knights to their second-straight bowl victory. Saturday afternoon\’s 52-30 International Bowl victory marked the first time in 138 years of football at Rutgers University that the school won back-to-back bowl games (RU defeated Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, 2006).
The 52 points scored were the most in the school\’s bowl history. Including both individual and team marks, Rutgers set a total of nine bowl records at the International Bowl. Rutgers finished the season with 426 points on the year, setting the single season record (387 in 2006). The Scarlet Knights\’ eight wins in 2007 also marked just the second time since 1980 that RU have recorded an eight-win season and the 12th time in school history.
For his performance, Rice was named the International Bowl\’s Most Valuable Player. It was the second time in his bowl career that he received MVP honors after taking home the trophy at the 2006 Texas Bowl. Rice\’s 280 yards were the third most rushing yards in NCAA Bowl history and gave him his school record eighth-straight 100- yard game and sixth 200-yard game of his career. He has eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark 25 times in 38 career games.
Rice entered the game with 1,732 yards on the season and with 280 for the game, he amassed a total of 2,012 yards, becoming the 13th player in NCAA history to go over the 2,000 yard mark in a single campaign. He also became the first BIG EAST player to rush for more than 2,000 yards and set both a conference and school record in single-season rushing (2,012). It was also Rice\’s first four-touchdown game of his career. He has scored multiple touchdowns in 13 games.
The Scarlet Knights got off to a hot start, opening the game with a touchdown score on the first drive for the fourth time this season. After an 18-yard kickoff return by freshman RB Mason Robinson (Somerville, N.J.), Rice broke off a 21-yard run to midfield. Junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) proceeded to complete two-of-three passes, including a 36-yard touchdown strike to sophomore WR Tim Brown (Miami, Fla.) as RU took a 7-0 lead.
On the touchdown pass, Teel tied former Scarlet Knight signal-callers Mike McMahon (2000) and Ryan Hart (2005) for the most TD passes in a season with 18. Teel went on to set a new record with two more passing touchdowns, finishing with 20 for the season. Teel completed 16-of-23 passes for 303 yards, his sixth 300 yard game of the season. He also set the second-best single-season passing record with 3,147 yards. The three touchdowns against Ball State marked his eighth multiple touchdown game of the year.
Rutgers forced a pair of punts on Ball State\’s next two possessions before taking over the ball on their own 30 yard line. The Scarlet Knights then drove 70 yards on six plays to take a 14-0 lead. During the drive, RU benefited from a pass interference call against Ball State to start things at midfield. Teel then completed a 22-yard pass to junior WR Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.), but it was Rice who would do the most damage as he gained 33 yards on five carries.
Rice found pay dirt for his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, tying JJ Jennings for the most touchdowns in a season. With the one-yard run, Rice also tied the school\’s single-season rushing record with 1,794 yards which he set during the 2006 season. As a team the Scarlet Knights also established a new single season scoring mark with 388 points, eclipsing the previous record of 387 set last season.
Ball State would add a 47-yard field goal to close out the first quarter, pulling to within 11 points (14-3). Rutgers then opened the second quarter with a 12-play drive that went 48 yards, culminating with a 53-yard field goal by senior PK Jeremy Ito (Loma Linda, Calif.). The field goal was one of record-setting proportion as it marked the most field goals completed in a season (23) in school history. In addition to it tying Ito\’s career long (53 yards vs. USF, 9/29/06), the field goal was also the second longest in school history and the fifth longest in school history.
The Cardinals tacked on another field goal from 24 yards out to make it 17-6.
Rice helped the Scarlet Knights get out to an 18-point lead (24-6) with his second one-yard touchdown scamper of the afternoon. Rice had a hand in each of the six plays which went 40 yards, including an eight yard reception. With that second touchdown, Rice set a school single-season record with 22 rushing touchdowns.
Just before the halftime whistle, Ball State added its third field goal of the game as the Scarlet Knights entered the locker room with a 15-point lead (24-9).
After forcing a Ball State punt to begin the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights reclaimed possession, but was pinned on its own two yard line to start the drive. Rutgers again turned to its workhorse-back, who carried twice for eight yards, before exploding through the left side of the line for a career-best 90-yard touchdown carry.
The Cardinals cut into RU\’s lead with a six-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Dante Love, making the score 31-16. Rutgers and Ball State traded possessions before the Scarlet Knights would increase their lead to 38-16 with Rice\’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game. Rice carried five times for 50 yards, while Teel completed a pair of passes from 21 yards during the drive.
A fumbled snap by BSU\’s Davis was recovered by senior LB Brandon Renkart (Piscataway, N.J.), leading to the Scarlet Knights next touchdown. RU made quick work of its next opportunity as Teel and Underwood connected for a 35-yard completion in the end zone on the first play of the drive. Rutgers forced a turnover-on-downs on the Cardinals next possession as the offense once again showed its quick strike ability with another Teel touchdown pass.
After a seven yard completion to Rice, Teel hooked up with sophomore WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) for a 47-yard touchdown reception to give the Scarlet Knights their largest lead of the game 52-23 (29 points). Britt ended the game with six catches for 125 yards, the sixth 100-yard receiving game of his career, tying him with Underwood for third place in school history.
BSU responded with a touchdown score of its own, but it proved to be too late as the Scarlet Knights came away with the 52-30 win.
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