newjerseynewsroom.com

BY MATT SUGAM

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NEW YORK - When Mohamed Sanu came to Piscataway in the spring of 2009, he never pictured passing the likes of Kenny Britt and Larry Fitzgerald. There was no reason to, considering he came to Rutgers as a safety.

But after switching to wide receiver before the spring game, the 6' 2'', 215 pounder made four catches, including an impressive 17-yard touchdown grab. A snapshot of the things to come.

Fast-forward two and half years and the junior from South Brunswick sits atop the Big East record books with the most catches in a season at 94 and counting.

“I’m kind of speechless because that’s great company to be in with,” Sanu — who never says much — said. ”They’re great players and just phenomenal athletes.”

So is Sanu. He’s made several eye-popping plays this year. Like his one-handed touchdown grab against North Carolina. Or his fourth and nine catch against USF that he tapped to himself while falling to the ground to extend the game-tying drive.

There was nothing dazzling today. Just your typical 13 reception, 129 yard day to help lead Rutgers past Army 27-12.

“Every once in a while you get to coach a guy like that and ‘like that’ is pretty special,” head coach Greg Schiano said.

While Sanu didn’t find the end zone today, his production kept the chains moving for Rutgers. And the Scarlet Knights were able to score in a couple other phases.

Trailing 6-0 after a pair of field goals by Army, Chas Dodd (17 of 27 for 196 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions) would find fullback Michael Burton in the flat for a 3-yard touchdown — the first of his career. However, San San Te would slip while kicking the extra point, keeping the game knotted at six with just over two minutes left in the first half.

It didn’t take long into the second half for Rutgers to take the lead, one which they would never give up. Dodd would find Brandon Colemen streaking down the right sideline and connect on a 38-yard pitch and catch.

Army had a chance to even up the score when fullback Larry Dixon ran for a two-yard touchdown a minute into the fourth quarter. But like Te, Army’s Alex Carlton would miss the extra point on the other end of the field.

Rutgers would have a scare when Dodd threw his second interception of the game while looking for Brandon Coleman at the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

“Both of them [interceptions] I feel like I just forced them in when I had better guys on the field to throw it to,” Dodd said.

Fortunately for Dodd and the Knights, his turnovers didn’t come back to haunt them. Soon enough, Rutgers would blow the game open.

And it was none other than the special teams unit. Wayne Warren would block a punt that Jordan Thomas would scoop up and score from 32 yards out.

“Our punt block team is kind of like our most fun team we have. People have been doing things to negate our ability to block punts,” Schiano said of the sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season. “We felt like we had an opportunity this week….We got them on one and what a critical play.”

After a sluggish day, Jawan Jamison would scamper on a 56-yard run to put the game away.

With the win and a loss by Cincinnati and Louisville, Rutgers hopes of a Big East title are still alive. They just need to take care of their own business — starting with Cincy next week — and have West Virginia and Louisville drop another game.

“If we win our next two games, who knows what can happen. I think we’ve got a pretty good chance, but it all starts with next week,” nose tackle Scott Vallone said. “They [Cincinnati] put a whooping on us last year so we got to make sure we’re ready to go and really get ready for this game mentally and emotionally and put our best effort out there and put it all on the line.”

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