RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
T he performance by quarterback Gary Nova was the most dominant out of many players who distinguished themselves during the Rutgers University football team’s 26-24 triumph over the University of Michigan on Oct. 4 at sold-out High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway.
The senior completed 22-of-39 pass attempts and eclipsed the 400-yard mark (404) for the first time in his career as he led the Scarlet Knights (5- 1) to their first ever Big Ten Conference victory. Nova also added three more touchdown passes to the school’s career record he already owns, which is currently 64.
The show he put on against Michigan hasn’t always been typical of Nova. Numerous times throughout his career, untimely interceptions have directly led to bitter defeats that cost the Scarlet Knights Big East championships. For example, the signal-caller was picked off five times during Rutgers’ only loss, 13- 10, to Penn State University on Sept. 13. In the last four years behind center, Nova has surrendered 46 interceptions, including seven this season.
Nova’s aerial fireworks and command of Rutgers’ offense against an admittedly beleaguered Michigan defense should temper the mindset of fans who still harbor resentment toward Nova for past losses. For one of the few times in a crucial game, the quarterback energized his teammates by making confident decisions that enabled the offense to score just enough points to gain a victory against one of the most storied programs in college football.
Nova also has improved field vision, which has prompted him to keep the ball and run for first downs rather than sail passes out of bounds when there are no open receivers. One such scramble resulted in a 20-yard advance (Nova’s career long) and an important first down that kept alive a drive ending with a Rutgers touchdown.
“Coach [Ralph] Friedgen (offensive coordinator) encouraged me to use my running ability more, so that’s been in the back of my mind,” Nova said in a jubilant locker room after the game. “I mean, football is a hitting game, and if I need to take a shot to get a first down, so be it.”
While the spotlight was squarely on Nova, not to be forgotten was a play that has been a staple of this and past Rutgers teams: blocking field-goal attempts. This one came with 3:07 remaining in the game and the Scarlet Knights holding onto a two-point lead as Michigan kicker Matt Wile lined up for a 56-yard attempt.
The length of the field goal dictated the ball’s trajectory, but as Rutgers’ special team raced onto the field, 6-foot-6 Kemoko Turay crouched low behind the line. Turay resembles a forward on the basketball court more than a football player, but the redshirt freshman has embraced his position as if he’s played it all his life instead of one season in high school before coming to Rutgers. Besides hounding quarterbacks, which has enabled Turay to lead the nation in sacks with 5.5, the Newark native’s other specialty has been his enormous leaping ability.
“I knew I had [the block],” said Turay, whose right hand stretched high into the night sky, far above other Rutgers defenders, to block the kick. “I kind of look at the kicker, count his steps and time my leap with the speed of the ball coming at me.”
It sounds simple enough, but Turay has been responsible for three of Rutgers’ five blocks this season (tops in the nation), which brings the Scarlet Knights’ remarkable total to 40 since 2009, which is also the most of any college team.
The statistics point to a belief that has been a constant with Rutgers’ special teams — they expect one of them will make a block or cause a turnover.
That’s exactly how Turay feels about his special gift.
“There was no way we were going to lose this game,” he said. “I had a lot of family come up from Georgia to see me, and I’ve been energized by the faith my teammates put in me. I couldn’t let them down.”
The Barringer High School graduate was asked if his vertical leap has ever been measured, and he responded, “No, but I’d like to know myself.”
Not surprising, the Big Ten announced on Oct. 6 that Nova and Turay were named the conference’s top offensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Rutgers is off until Oct. 18, when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to meet Ohio State University, another Big Ten opponent. Despite the Scarlet Knights’ record, they will likely be huge underdogs to the 15th-ranked Buckeyes, who are 4-1. Still, most Rutgers fans would have eagerly signed on for five victories in the first six games, which puts the Scarlet Knights one short of qualifying for a bowl. Until the games are played, there’s no telling how many games Rutgers will win.
The team is not looking that far ahead. The Scarlet Knights face only conference opponents the rest of the season, and each game presents its own type of challenge. As head coach Kyle Flood says every week as he prepares his team for the game ahead, “We have another chance to be 1-0. That’s all we’re thinking about now.”