Rutgers utilizes defense and special teams in win

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers’ defense and special teams showed they can carry the Scarlet Knights when running back Ray Rice and the rest of the offense can’t.

With the nation’s second-leading rusher held in check by Connecticut (3-5), the No. 15 Scarlet Knights (8-0) held off the Huskies 24-13 on Sunday night to remain one of the nation’s six undefeated teams.

Rice scored on a 5-yard run on the first drive of the game, Manny Collins returned a fumble 11 yards for a score and Quintero Frierson scored on a blocked punt in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

After Rutgers took a 17-0 halftime lead, freshman Donald Brown scored on touchdown runs of 65 and 8 yards for UConn. Playing in place of regular starter Terry Caulley, Brown finished with 199 yards in his first college start, by far the most yards this season against Rutgers, which had been allowing 78 yards per game.

Rutgers needed the contributions from its defense and special teams because its offense was largely nonexistent in the second half.

Rice came into the game averaging 161 yards, second behind Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois. But Rice finished with 79 yards on 22 carries, his lowest total of the season.

UConn was plagued by mistakes. A long kickoff return by Larry Taylor to the Rutgers 31 in the first half was erased by a holding penalty, and a fumble by Hernandez near the end of the half stopped a drive that had reached the Rutgers 43.