Rutgers failed to score a potential game-tying TD in the final two minutes and lost at West Virginia, 24-17.
QB Mike Teel misfired on three of his four throws on the drive, including a 4th-and-5 intended for Tiquan Underwood.
The loss dropped the Scarlet Knights to 1-4 (0-1 Big East) entering Saturday’s game at Cincinnati. After that, Rutgers returns home to face a UConn team that is unbeaten entering tonight’s tilt with North Carolina.
“I know one thing: We don’t know have any margin for error next week,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said, according to Keith Sargeant of the Home News Tribune. “We got another Big East football game. We have to get better.”
Teel completed 14 of 32 passes for 170 yards, but was consistently undone by overthrows or dropped passes.
Junior WR Kenny Britt had a career day, tying his previous record for most receptions in a game with 12. The 151 yards he gained also marked the eighth 100-yard receiving performance of his career which set the all-time record in Rutgers history.
Yet the Rutgers rushing attack was virtually non-existent. West Virginia outgained Rutgers, 175 yards to 72, on the ground. Redshirt freshman Jourdan Brooks was the leading rusher with 61 yards on 17 carries.
West Virginia star QB Pat White, the two-time Big East Player of the Year, missed the fourth quarter after getting crunched by Rutgers CB Devin McCourty and LB Ryan D’Imperio during the third period. He finished with 59 yards rushing and 137 yards passing, including two TDs.
