PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Thee was talk this was a trap game for Rutgers, but what the Scarlet Knights got instead was an ambush and a humiliation on their Homecoming Day. The Scarlet Knights turned over the ball seven times and turned in a performance more befitting a winless team than an undefeated one, and wound up with a 35-23 loss to Mid-American Conference foe Kent State that spoiled an unbeaten season.
Sophomore quarterback Gary Nova threw a school-record six interceptions, with No. 15 Rutgers (7-1) coughing up the ball and choking away its unbeaten record. The Scarlet Knights dug themselves into an 18-points second-quarter hole, and underdog Kent State gladly threw dirt on their undefeated foe.
“They just played better than us. Play like that and you’re going to lose,” Nova said. “They pressured us a lot more than we saw on film, but no excuses, they played better. It’s a terrible feeling. You never want to feel like this, especially with all the hard work you put in. But you’ve just got to take the punches.’’
With “Frankenstorm” Hurricane Sandy approaching, Rutgers faced a perfect storm of its own — a bye approaching, a month between Big East games and an upset-minded MAC foe. Rutgers joined the likes of Penn State, Cincinnati, Iowa and Kansas among the MAC’s 15 BCS-league victims this year, and it was never really close.
“We’re certainly disappointed,’’ Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said. “One [of our goals] is gone. … [But] there’s a goal that’s in front of us that’s never been done at Rutgers, the Big East championship.’’
Rutgers still can reach the Orange Bowl, but they will have to rebound from this horrid performance in front of 49,345 — including former players Ray Rice, Brian Leonard and Mohamed Sanu. Nova threw three picks in the second quarter when Kent State (7-1) built a 21-3 lead.
“They played a lot better than us. They came out and won the game and took it from us,’’ said Rutgers defensive tackle Scott Vallonewhose team finally paid for their penchant for falling behind, the fourth time in the last six games they had done so.
“We believe we’re the toughest team, but they were definitely tougher,’’ said linebacker Steve Beauharnais, who saw his defense gouged for 224 rushing yards. Trayion Durham bulled his way to 131 rushing yards, with Dri Archer adding 86.
Kent State coach Darrell Hazell is a former Rutgers assistant, and clearly scouted his old team well. Defensive lineman Mark Fackler picked off Nova twice, the second a jumping, one-handed interception on the jet screen that had been so successful for Rutgers. He ran it back 25 yards for a 14-3 lead, and Leon Green’s pick led to a Dri Archer 7-yard run for a 21-3 cushion with 5:54 left in the half.
Nova hit Tim Wright for a 19-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-10 with just four seconds left in the half, but Kent State took the kickoff and marched for the first third-quarter touchdown Rutgers had allowed, and a 28-10 lead. And Rutgers closed on receiver Brandon Coleman’s 24-yard corner route touchdown, they shot themselves in the foot with more turnovers.
Receiver Quron Pratt got wide open in a zone but fumbled the ball away running untouched. On the next drive, linebacker Luke Batton tipping a Nova pass up to cornerback Sidney Saulter for another pick. Kent State salted it with another score, and even after Jawan Jamison’s two-yard plunge cut it to 35-23, Rutgers got no closer.
“We let ourselves down. We didn’t play good ball,’’ linebacker Khaseem Greene said. “This is a character test, how are we going to respond to this.’’