Tag: Big Ten

Joshua Cruz enjoying the celebration of Rutgers first Big 10 win

Rutgers players soak in celebration, enjoy historic victory over Michigan

By Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on October 05, 2014 at 12:38 AM, updated October 05, 2014 at 12:52 AM

PISCATAWAY — Betim Bujari has been on the winning end of 33 games since arriving at Rutgers, but the fifth-year senior center has no trouble ranking Saturday night’s 26-24 triumph over Michigan.

“Best moment of my life tonight, just being out there on the field, first Big Ten win, having the student section run out and celebrate with us, can’t describe it,” Bujari said. “It’s electrifying.”

Rutgers’ second Big Ten affair was not unlike its first: a tradition-rich college football powerhouse, a raucous capacity crowd, a lead for much of the game.

And then, in the time it takes to read this sentence, Michigan had rallied from a 26-17 fourth-quarter deficit, threatening to take the lead as it set up for a long field goal in the waning minutes.

It had all the makings of the 13-10 gut-punch at the hands of Penn State three weeks ago until Kemoko Turay jumped high in the air to bat down a 56-yard field goal attempt, preserving a 26-24 triumph that figures to live for the ages.

“It’s something you remember forever,” Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova said after throwing for a career-high 404 yards and three touchdowns on 22-for-39 passing. “The reason why you play college football is for moments like that.”

When it was over, after the Scarlet Knights (5-1, 1-1) moved within one victory of bowl-eligibility with their first Big Ten win, thousands of black-clad fans stormed the field to soak in the celebration.

https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2014/10/rutgers_players_soak_in_celebration_enjoy_historic_victory_over_michigan.html