West Virginia ended Rutgers’ drive for their first ever Big East title but it took them three overtimes to do it.
West Virginia tied the game 23-23 in regulation on Pat McAfee’s 30-yard field goal with 53 seconds left. (Jeremy Ito would have a chance to win on a 52-yard attempt, but the kick fell short as the second half came to a close.)
Both teams scored on field goals in the first overtime (26 all) and then touchdowns in the second (33 all). WVU scored a TD on their possession in the third overtime and was successful on the mandatory 2-point conversion. Rutgers, too, scored a TD on their possession but Mike Teel’s pass into the end zone on the conversion attempt was knocked out of the receiver’s hands and fell to the turf.
Junior place kicker Jeremy Ito temporarily tied Brian Leonard to become the all-time leading scorer in Rutgers’ history when he connected on a 37-yard field goal in the first overtime period. At the time it gave him 266 points for his career. Leonard jumped back in front with a 1-yard TD in the second overtime giving him 272 points. (Ito made the extra point to give him 267.)
Ito is the all-time Rutgers’ field goal kicker with 54 so far in his career. Second place belongs to Kennan Startzell (1976-1979)who had 46
Ray Rice finished the game with 129 yards on 25 carries. It was the first time this season West Virginia allowed a 100-yard rusher.
Mike Teel had a career-high 278 yards passing on 19-for-26 (73% completion).
(Game Story and stats here.)
The loss gives Rutgers and West Virginia identical records of 10-2, 5-2 in the Big East. The Louisville Cardinals, who defeated Connecticut earlier in the day, become the Big East Champions with a record of 11-1, 6-1 in the Big East.
All three teams are bowl bound.
Louisville earned the automatic BCS bowl bid.
WVU will go to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida where they are matched against Georgia Tech.
Rutgers will be going to the Texas Bowl to be played in Houston on Thursday, December 28, 2006
7:00 p.m. CST. They face off against Kansas State.
1 comment:
We get WV news on TV here in eastern KY and the big news over the weekend was that the WVU coach is being actively recruited by Alabama. I just wonder if the win over undefeated Rutgers may have had some bearing. I know Rutgers' fans aren't too happy with his coaching skills, but you have to admit that WVU football has improved under his tenure.
Rutgers lost to one heck of a football team. There's no shame in that.
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