Recap: Rutgers vs. Syracuse
Sports Network | November 08, 2008
Piscataway, NJ (Sports Network) - Mike Teel completed 26-of-36 passes for 276 yards and three scores to lead the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to a 35-17 win over the Syracuse Orange in a Big East Conference showdown at Rutgers Stadium.
Kenny Britt was Teel's favorite target, hauling in nine passes for 107 yards and a score. Kordell Young paced Rutgers (4-5, 3-2 Big East) ground attack, carrying 29 times for 143 yards and a TD.
Curtis Brinkley led a struggling Syracuse (2-7, 1-4) offense, rushing the ball 18 times for 67 yards.
After a slow start to the first quarter, Syracuse got on the board with an 80- yard run from Doug Hogue.
Moments later, the Orange jumped out to a 14-0 lead when Da'Mon Merkerson recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.
Rutgers finally got on the board in the opening minutes of the second quarter, as Teel found Tiquan Underwood for a five-yard touchdown pass.
The Scarlet Knights tied the game with just under five minutes to play in the half, when Teel hooked up with Britt from 16 yards out. The teams went into the locker room with the score tied at 14.
Rutgers got back on the board early in the third quarter, when Kordell Young pounded his way in for a one-yard touchdown run.
The Scarlet Knights extended their lead to 28-14 midway through the third quarter, when Joe Martinek ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run.
Syracuse responded on its next possession with a 47-yard field goal by Patrick Shadle.
But Rutgers put the game away early in the fourth quarter, when Teel hooked up with Underwood from 16 yards out to seal the 35-17 win.
Rutgers was stifling on defense, limiting the Orange to just 168 total yards, with only 35 yards coming through the air.
