New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Jawan Jamison rushed for 112 yards and a
touchdown to lead the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as they defeated the Tulane
Green Wave, 24-12, in a non-conference battle at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Gary Nova completed 11-of-20 passes for 158 yards with one touchdown and
interception for Rutgers (1-0), while Khaseem Greene led the defense with 14
total tackles and a sack. The Scarlet Knights' victory was the first-ever win
for the program's new head coach, Kyle Flood.
Ryan Griffin led Tulane (0-1) by completing 34-of-48 passes for 254 yards with
a single touchdown and interception. Ryan Grant led all receivers with 110
yards on six receptions, but the Green Wave complied just eight rushing yards
as a team. Tulane was led in the loss by its first-year head coach, Curtis
Johnson. Dating back to last season, the Green Wave have lost 11 games in a
row, their longest losing slide since 1961-1963 when they lost 16 consecutive
games.
After a scoreless opening period, Rutgers took control in the second quarter
when Jamison broke away for a 46-yard touchdown run. Kyle Federico added an
extra point to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-0 lead with just under 10 minutes
left to play in the first half.
Tulane scored its first points of the season with 41 seconds left in the
second frame as Cairo Santos connected on a 40-yard field goal. Following a
55-yard kick return by Jeremy Deering and a 34-yard reception by Jamison on a
screen pass, Federico added three points for Rutgers with a 28-yard field goal
to put the Scarlet Knights on top, 10-3, as the game progressed into the
intermission.
Neither side managed to put points on the board in the third period, but the
Green Wave managed to narrow the deficit as Cairo made a 32-yard field goal
which made the score, 10-6, with 14:52 left in regulation.
The Scarlet Knights' struck back as Brandon Jones returned an interception 14
yards for a score at the 11:57 mark of the fourth frame. Rutgers added some
insurance near the midpoint of the quarter when Nova found Brandon Coleman for
a 43-yard touchdown pass that gave the visitors a commanding 24-6 lead.
The Green Wave finally found the end zone with just more than five minutes
left to play when Griffin passed it to a wide-open Rob Kelley for an 11-yard
touchdown. Neither team managed to score again before time ran out.
Tulane was successful on 8-of-16 third down conversions, but it was penalized
11 times for 120 yards in the contest.
GAME NOTES:
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