Heartbreak for Rutgers

In what some would consider a predictable outcome, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost their undefeated status by dropping their first Big Ten game to the Nittany Lions, 13-10 at Highpoint Solutions Stadium.  The loss left the Knights at 2-1 on the season while the Lions moved to 3-0.

The overcast skies duruing the day, along with the rain showers, seemed to portend what was to happen at night. But the Knights' first half performance defied the odds as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind a Gary Nova TD run and a field goal.

But poor QB play by Gary Nova and PSU simply grinding out the game turned the tide.

This was a contest that transcended the field of play, as PSU coach James "Hype" Franklin was counting on a win to silence Rutgers fans and to solidify his recruiting in the Garden State.  On the flip side, RU coach Kyle Flood had created a mantra, of sorts, by never referring to PSU by its actual name, preferring to call it "that school from Pennsylvania".

PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg came into the contest ready to pick apart a very questionable RU secondary, and the Lions' faithful expected nothing less.  But that was not the case as the Knights held him in check. The winning TD came on a rush.

The Rutgers game plan seemed to be to mix it up, but Nova's interceptions killed any chance for the Knights.

Follow On the Banks for full coverage of the game.

Score by quarters: