PISCATAWAY — Rutgers got hammered and humiliated, 49-14, at home by Houston, the worst beating in nearly a decade. When the turnover-fest was over, they had a locker room full of bruised egos and a potential situation brewing at quarterback.
Starting quarterback Gary Nova struggled. The defense stunk, and Rutgers allowed seven touchdowns and 611 yards without forcing a single turnover, while their own offense coughed the ball up a season-high six times, including three picks by Nova. It all added up to their most lopsided loss since a 56-5 rout at Louisville on Nov. 11, 2005. It was their worst home loss since their 40-0 defeat to West Virginia on Oct. 12. 2002.
“It definitely hurts more. A loss is a loss but nobody wants to get blown out,’’ defensive back Tejay Johnson said. “When you don’t execute, this is the way you feel; frustrated, mad at the world.’’
Most of the homecoming crowd of 52,200 left High Point Solutions Stadium mad. Rutgers porous defense was riddled by freshman QB John O’Korn, who went 24-of-30 for 364 yards with five TDs and no picks.
Nova, on the other hand, was just 7-of-15 for 138 yards with no scores and the three interceptions before being pulled in the third quarter for Chase Dodd.
“Gary’s got to make better decisions,” coach Kyle Flood said. “We’ve got a lot invested in him as the starting quarterback. We’re counting on him to make quality decisions,and I don’t think today was his best day making decisions.’’
For the first time, Flood did not say Nova was definitively his starter.
“I don’t know that,” he said. “I’d have to look at the film before I could make that judgment. I just thought that for today it was in his best interest to watch for a little bit and give Chase an opportunity to get out there and play.’’
Rutgers (4-3, 1-1 AAC), which trailed 14-7 in the second quarter, tied it on a 14-yard run by Justin Goodwin, who was one of the few bright spots for the Scarlet Knights. He rushed for 161 yards and two TDs.
But Houston (6-1, 3-0) quickly regained the lead and scored twice in 52 seconds. O’Korn hit Deontay Greenberry (eight catches for 168 yards, three TDs) for an 83-yard score on a slant. After Rutgers lost possession on a fumble by fullback Michael Burton, O’Korn threw a 14-yard TD to DaMarcus Ayers for a 28-14 halftime lead.
Rutgers sandwiched two picks around O’Korn’s 2-yard TD pass to Aaron Johnson, the first on Savon Huggins’ halfback option pass intended for Brandon Coleman — held without a catch — and the next when Nova threw right to defensive back Adrian McDonald in the end zone.
“Those were all on me,” Nova said. “I’ll just watch film and try to get better. … I just need to be better, not force balls in there.”
Nova said he can’t control if he will remain the starter, but knows he has to play better.
“That’s coach Flood’s decision,” he said. “I’m going to go out here and work my hardest. If he makes that decision that’s him and I’ll support Chase. If not, I’ll be the guy to win the game for him.’’