newjerseynewsroom.com

BY MIKE VORKUNOV

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Greg Schiano did not try to tap dance around the question on the minds of every one who had just witnessed the scintillating game at Rutgers Stadium that may have buoyed a season. Instead, he took the direct route and made a pre-emptive strike.

"I know people want to talk about what now," he said in his post-game press conference. "Hey, I know we have two special quarterbacks in our program and I'm excited about that. I've said that all along, but now they've both won big games."

The incumbent before Thursday night, Tom Savage, won his big games last season, none more notable than a last second theft at Connecticut. His replacement, for at least one night, won a big one last night also at the hands of the Huskies. That's the one that will stick in the craw and may just spark a debate over who the rightful starter under center should be.

Chas Dodd, a true freshman making his first career start, didn't look like a fresh-faced quarterback to match his baby face. Poised, determined and full of moxie, he led two drives deep into the fourth quarter to resuscitate what was becoming an unsavory season for Rutgers.

The Knights scored ten points in the last four minutes, erasing a touchdown deficit, to pull out a heart pounding 27-24 win.
Dodd made several big throws, but it was the progress of the arm where he did not release the ball that may have loomed largest.

Down 24-17, Rutgers started the drive at their own 48-yard line with 4:02 remaining to make amends for a blown ten-point lead. On the first play of the drive, the play call came in for a swing pass to Jordan Thomas into the flat that had become the running back's bread and butter contribution in the passing game. Dodd looked left but pump faked instead of unfurling a throw. That froze the Huskies cornerback on that side charged with covering Mark Harrison, giving him all the space to get wide open behind the defense and haul in a 52-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 24 points a piece.

But that wasn't all the heroics Dodd would produce. After the two teams exchanged three-and-outs, the Knights started with the ball on their 38-yard line and 1:31 remaining. On the first play Dodd hit Deering along the left sideline for a 45-yard completion to the Connecticut 17-yard line. From there it was a case of killing the clock and getting the ball in the right spot for San San Te. With 13 seconds left, Te nailed a 34-yard field goal to give Rutgers the win.
"I really thought he could do special things," said Schiano of Dodd, who finished completing 18-of-29 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns. "I think he went in there and he's a very cool customer."

Considering the moment and the weight on his shoulders, it might have been natural for Dodd to feel the burden presented to him. Not only was Rutgers a team fading downward, after two straight losses, it faced starting the Big East season on a sour note. Whatever optimism there was from still having a shot at a BCS bowl game because it had only been non-conference games to that point, would have been minimized.

Not exactly the circumstances a coach would want his backup freshman quarterback to make his starting debut. But Dodd never felt what others might have ascribed to him.

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"I was just anxious," he said, refuting any hint of nerves. "There weren't any butterflies. I wasn't really nervous. I was just anxious to get out there and win."

They won despite taking and then losing control of the game in a wild first half. Rutgers jumped out to a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter that saw all 21 points get scored in a 2:44 span. Dodd hit Deering on slant route across that middle that the freshman receiver took 46 yards to the house and give his team a 7-0 lead. Connecticut promptly responded as Nick Williams took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to tie the score.

Seemingly playing a game of one-upsmanship, Joe Lefeged then took the next kickoff 75-yards. Mohamed Sanu, starting out the WildKnight formation, then punched it in from two-yards out to retake the lead for the Knights.
Rutgers tacked on a field goal in the second quarter but then let up the next 17 points, starting with a 66-yard run by Jordan Todman. Kashif Moore then caught a 22-yard touchdown pass and Dave Teggart added a 17-yard field goal at the end of the half.

That left the Knights in a daunting hole considering their offensive ineptitude in the fourth quarter as of late. Going as far back as the victory over Florida International, they had not scored a point in the last 43:07 played in the fourth quarter. Not exactly the statistic that comebacks are made of.

That number was stretched another 11:07 before Harrison's touchdown. Harrison's score capped off a banner night for him and Deering, both young receivers without much of a track record.

Harrison caught five balls for 112 yards and that touchdown. Deering almost matched him with three catches for 102 yards and the touchdown that started all the scoring. D.C. Jefferson found his way into the fray with four catches for 57 yards. And Jordan Thomas contributed in two facets of the game, rushing for 39 yards but also picking up 73 yards through the air.

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Their contributions were the difference between an offense that looked stale for the first four games and against Connecticut. Even without Mohamed Sanu producing his usual boffo night (two catches for 11 yards, 27 yards rushing, and 43-yard completed pass), the offense had a different feel.

"Those are the plays we haven't made in the first four weeks," said Schiano. "We haven't had a big pass play in the first four weeks, and I knew that it was coming. You know, again, we weren't perfect. We had some drops, as well. But when you make those big plays, it makes up for a lot of drops.

"You could see Jeremy coming on, right; you could see him, he's so strong and so athletic, he just had to feel his way. He's not near to how good he's going to be, let me tell you. Mark Harrison I've said all along is coming along, and I'm really proud of his progress not only out there on the football field but everything. He's really starting to get it. I'm certainly happy for him against his home state, being a Connecticut kid, certainly a huge play, and really happy for that young receiver's crew."

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