Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Syracuse Orange Match Player Stats On Oct 01, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 1, 2011

A game dominated by sloppy plays ended with one, as Antwon Bailey’s fumble in the second overtime sealed a 19-16 road win for Rutgers over Syracuse in the Big East opener for both teams.

Rutgers (3-1, 1-0) forced five turnovers and rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit just to get into overtime. After the teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, San San Te kicked a 47-yarder in the second session to cap Rutgers’ possession. Syracuse (3-2, 0-1) failed to answer when Bailey, who ran for a season-high 124 yards, coughed it up for the second time on Rutgers’ 16-yard line.

The Orange had won both of their previous overtime games this season but failed to pull this one out. They took a lead into the fourth quarter for the first time in five games. Ryan Nassib, who entered the game with just one interception, was picked off three times, including one by David Rowe on first-and-goal late in the third quarter as the Orange tried to extend a 13-3 advantage.

Syracuse’s senior was outplayed by a Rutgers’ freshman, as quarterback Gary Nova delivered in his first road test. Replacing starter Chas Dodd midway through the third quarter, Nova went 14-of-24 for 122 yards and a touchdown to Mohamed Sanu, which tied the game at 13-13 with 2:09 left in the fourth.

The Scarlet Knights overcame four turnovers themselves, 13 penalties and three missed field goals to win their first conference road game in nearly two years.