South Florida-Rutgers college football sidebar

RB Rice has his way against Bulls once again

By DENNIS GORMAN, Times Correspondent
Published October 19, 2007

---

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - USF's national title hopes came to an inglorious end Thursday night thanks to Ray Rice and a defense that couldn't stop him.

Rice rushed for 181 yards on 39 carries. The 39 rushes tied his career high, set last season against Pittsburgh. It was his 19th 100-yard rushing game, tying J.J. Jennings' school record set from 1971-73.

In three games against USF, Rutgers' junior has totaled 541 yards on 100 carries - 5.41 yards per rush - and two touchdowns.

"He's a good running back," USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

Rice's presence allowed junior quarterback Mike Teel to stretch the Bulls secondary.

Teel completed 11 of 29 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Trailing 17-13 at the start of the third quarter, Rice ran twice for 6 yards. On third and 4 from the Rutgers' 31-yard line and with the Bulls acutely aware of the Scarlet Knights' Heisman Trophy candidate, Teel connected with junior wide receiver Tiquan Underwood for a 69-yard touchdown that gave his team a 20-17 lead.

It was an advantage Rutgers did not relinquish.

"I thought our defense played hard," Leavitt said.

"The one big pass play ... missed a tackle. It's some big plays like that."

Rutgers' commitment to the run caused the undersized USF defensive line to wear down midway through the third quarter.

After starting cornerback Devin McCourtney's block of a 37-yard Delbert Alvarado field goal attempt, Rice had runs of 14, 33 and 5 yards in a drive that culminated with a 15-yard touchdown pass from reserve quarterback Andrew DePaola to Kevin Brock that pushed Rutgers' lead to 27-17.

"We were hoping to stop the run better than we did," Leavitt said.

"They ran the ball on us."

While Rice is a headache that the Bulls are glad to be rid of for another season, the bigger issue will be the lack of forced turnovers. USF was credited with three fumble recoveries. Only one, however, was forced by the defense - a fumble by Rice late in the fourth quarter.

"We took a hit," Leavitt said of the Bulls' Big East title hopes.

He might as well have been talking about the defense.

USF hadn't allowed a runner to reach 100 yards in the 14 games since Rice went for 202 in the Scarlet Knights' 22-20 win last year.

Rice had 94 at halftime Thursday night.

"When my number's called," Rice said, "I'm going to do whatever it takes."

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/19/Sports/RB_Rice_has_his_way_a.shtml