SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 13, 2012
No. 19 Rutgers 23, Syracuse 15: Gary Nova found tight end Tyler Kroft for a 12-yard touchdown one minute into the fourth quarter as the Scarlet Knights defeated the visiting Orange.
Nova finished 14-of-23 for 152 yards as Rutgers (6-0, 3-0 Big East) sacked Ryan Nassib three times, forced four Syracuse turnovers and held the Orange (2-4, 1-1) to 62 rushing yards to remain undefeated and clinch bowl eligibility.
Nassib, who finished 25-of-42 for 356 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, found Christopher Clark for a 40-yard score with 4:19 left. Nassib hit Marcus Sales to convert the two-point conversion and pull Syracuse within eight, but Brandon Jones' interception sealed the Scarlet Knights' victory with 2:45 left.
Jawan Jamison’s 1-yard touchdown run gave Rutgers a 7-0 lead, but Syracuse pulled even at halftime on a 3-yard scoring dash by Adonis Ameen-Moore with 1:32 left in the second quarter.
Duron Harmon returned a blocked field goal 75 yards for a score three minutes into the third quarter and Nick Borgese hit a 25-yard field goal 7 1/2 minutes later to put Rutgers ahead 17-7.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rutgers improves to 6-0 for the first time 2006 and second time since joining the Big East in 1991. … Rutgers WR Brandon Coleman caught six passes for 104 yards. … Nova has lost only two games as a starter since eighth grade.