East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) – A one-yard touchdown run by Joe Martinek proved to be the difference in overtime as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights picked up the 23-20 win over the Army Black Knights in non-conference action at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Martinek finished with just 30 yards on 10 attempts for the Scarlet Knights (4-2), a team which generated a mere 95 yards on the ground. Chas Dodd completed 18-of-30 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted once and sacked a total of eight times, leaving him with a net of minus-78 rushing yards on the afternoon.
The Black Knights (4-3) were paced by Trent Steelman who not only converted 8- of-14 passes for 115 yards, he also turned 27 rushing attempts into 102 yards and a score in the setback. Jared Hassin logged a game-high 118 yards and a TD on 16 attempts as the academy posted 289 yards on the ground overall.
Steelman was responsible for the first points of the game as he hit the end zone on a three-yard run, capping a three-play, 12-yard drive late in the first quarter.
Rutgers cut into the lead with a 19-yard field goal by San San Te to conclude a lengthy 13-play, 60-yard drive that ate up nearly seven minutes on the clock.
On the subsequent drive by Army, Hassin crossed the goal line from five yards out to give the Black Knights a substantial 14-3 advantage. With the first half running down, Army again found itself in scoring position and used the opportunity for kicker Alex Carlton to convert a 21-yard field goal, making the score 17-3 at the break.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Dodd hit Kordell Young and Mark Harrison with scoring strikes of three and 16 yards, respectively, the second of which knotted the score at 17-17 with 5:16 remaining in regulation.
Into the overtime session the teams marched and Army took the first advantage on a 26-yard field goal by Carlton, but then Martinek put the game away for the Scarlet Knights with the short run as the squad from New Jersey won for the second time in as many outings.