Aug 31, 2007, 2:49 GMT
Piscataway, NJ - Ray Rice ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns to lead the 16th-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights over the Buffalo Bulls, 38-3, in the season opener for both programs.
Rice, a Heisman Trophy candidate, now has 3,101 career rushing yards, which is just 14 yards shy of passing Terrell Willis (3,114) for the all-time leader in school history. The junior passed JJ Jennings for second all-time on his first TD run and his night ended following his third score. He ended with 205 total yards, adding two receptions for 21 yards to his 25-carry performance.
Mike Teel completed 16-of-23 passes for a career-high 328 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for the Scarlet Knights (1-0), who opened their season by continuing the momentum created last year when they went 11-2 and won their first bowl game in school history.
Tiquan Underwood pulled in 10 receptions for a school-record 248 yards and two touchdowns for Rutgers, which gained nearly 600 yards in total offense, having opened the season ranked in both the Coaches' and Associated Press polls for the first time in history.
'It was a great way to start the year,' said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. 'Offensively, we were certainly very explosive. Defensively, we made some mistakes but we played hard. I give credit to Buffalo, they played well, but our guys came through.'
Drew Willy threw for 165 yard on 19-of-32 passing for the Bulls (0-1), who have dropped four straight and 11 of 12 since opening last season with a 9-3 overtime win against Temple.
Rutgers wasted little time getting on the board. Kordell Young returned the opening kickoff 56 yards to the Buffalo 43 and three plays later Rice ran in from 34 yards out for the 7-0 lead just 13:39 into action.
On the TD, Rice, who entered the game with 2,914 yards rushing, became the second all-time rusher in Rutgers' history, passing Jennings' total of 2,935. Rice opened the scoring drive with a six-yard scamper.
Rice added another touchdown to cap the Scarlet Knights' next possession, running in from 12 yards out with 4:39 left in the opening quarter.
Then, after holding the Bulls offense again, Teel hooked up with Underwood on a 65-yard pass play just 3:15 later for a 21-point cushion.
Teel and Underwood again hooked up on a huge pass play for a touchdown in the second quarter, teaming up for a 66-yard catch-and-run for a 28-0 cushion.
Underwood ended the first half with 228 yards on nine catches, compared to the Buffalo offense that recorded just 74 total yards.
Rice ran for 117 yards on 18 carries and Teel threw for 264 yards on 12-of-16 passing in the opening 30 minutes.
The Bulls avoided the shutout when A.J. Principe hit a 35-yard field goal with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Earlier in the quarter, RU had a touchdown called back because of holding and Jeremy Ito missed a potential career-long 56-yard field goal, setting up the Buffalo drive.
Rice, though, extended the lead to 32 points with a 41-yard TD run with 1:31 left in the third quarter and Ito hit a 38-yard field goal with 6:10 left in the contest for a 38-3 cushion.
Rutgers did not punt in the game, marking the first time that has happened since September 5, 1993 in a 68-6 win against Colgate.
Game Notes
This was the first of a five-game homestand to open the season for Rutgers, which takes on Navy September 7...Underwood broke Jack Emmer's school-record 237 receiving yards set November 16, 1966 at Holy Cross...Rice has 28 career rushing touchdowns, moving him into a tie for fifth with Harvey Grimsley on the school's all-time list. Jennings holds the school's career record with 34...Teel improved to 13-3 as starting quarterback at RU...RU has won eight straight at home, last losing at home on November 5, 2005 versus South Florida...RU improved to 5-1 all-time against the Bulls...Buffalo fell to 1-9 in its last 10 openers...RU opened the season at home for the first time since 2004...Buffalo fell to 2-11 under second-year head coach Turner Gill.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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