There may not be a playoff system to find out who the real National Champion is, but the Rutgers Scarlett Knights feel like Champions today after Rutgers capped off a surprisingly good football season with a 27-13 triumph over Iowa State in the second annual Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu, who had a brilliant 2011 campaign with 1,207 yards receiving, and who could be a draft day sleeper if he opts to go into the NFL, was shut down by the Cyclones and held to six catches for 62 yards. But the Scarlett Knights, who have built a team on depth all year, found other avenues to score throughout the evening.
Trailing Iowa State 6-0 in the second quarter, running back Jawan Jamison plowed into the end zone from one yard out, to give Rutgers a 7-6 lead. Jamison had a huge evening, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns. His effort was the key to Rutgers' success. Jamison would add his second touchdown on the day late in the second quarter on a 12 yard scamper to give the Scarlett Knights a 17-6 advantage.
Fast forward to the fourth quarte; Iowa State pulled back to within seven points, when Jeff Woody's 20 yard touchdown cut the Rutgers lead to 20-13. It appeared that momentum had been taken away from the Knights especially when Iowa forced Rutgers offense into a three and out, but the Scarlet Knights defense came up big. They held Iowa State to -2 net yards on three plays on the Cyclones next possession, forcing Iowa State to punt from their own 40 yard line.
On the next Rutgers possession, the Scarlet Knights put the game away when quarterback Chas Dodd found Brandon Coleman from 86 yards out to give the Knights a 27-13 advantage.
Under coach Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are 5-1 in bowl games, something that nobody thought was possible when he took over this team. While Rutgers didn't win enough games to capture the Big East title, and a higher BCS bowl berth, they accomplished a lot this season on a team that was 4-8 the previous season. If only there was a legitimate playoff system, who knows how far Rutgers would have gone this year.
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| Rutgers celebrates at Yankee Stadium. nj.com |
Trailing Iowa State 6-0 in the second quarter, running back Jawan Jamison plowed into the end zone from one yard out, to give Rutgers a 7-6 lead. Jamison had a huge evening, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns. His effort was the key to Rutgers' success. Jamison would add his second touchdown on the day late in the second quarter on a 12 yard scamper to give the Scarlett Knights a 17-6 advantage.
Fast forward to the fourth quarte; Iowa State pulled back to within seven points, when Jeff Woody's 20 yard touchdown cut the Rutgers lead to 20-13. It appeared that momentum had been taken away from the Knights especially when Iowa forced Rutgers offense into a three and out, but the Scarlet Knights defense came up big. They held Iowa State to -2 net yards on three plays on the Cyclones next possession, forcing Iowa State to punt from their own 40 yard line.
On the next Rutgers possession, the Scarlet Knights put the game away when quarterback Chas Dodd found Brandon Coleman from 86 yards out to give the Knights a 27-13 advantage.
Under coach Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are 5-1 in bowl games, something that nobody thought was possible when he took over this team. While Rutgers didn't win enough games to capture the Big East title, and a higher BCS bowl berth, they accomplished a lot this season on a team that was 4-8 the previous season. If only there was a legitimate playoff system, who knows how far Rutgers would have gone this year.
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