The Rutgers University football program put up a nice effort Saturday afternoon, but fell just short in a non-conference loss, 24-22, at the University of North Carolina. Sophomore quarterback Chas Dodd completed 25-of-47 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, while the Scarlet Knights defense forced five turnovers -- three interceptions and two fumbles -- but it wasn't enough.
UNC (2-0) used two big plays in the first quarter -- a 66-yard TD reception by senior wide receiver Dwight Jones and a 60-yard rushing TD by true freshman running back Giovani Bernard -- to take an early 14-6 lead. In the second half, RU used a 19-yard field goal from San San Te to close the deficit to 17-15, but Bernard added another rushing TD -- this time from six yards out -- to help push the lead up to 24-15 with 1:12 to play in the third quarter.
In the fourth, the Scarlet Knights (1-1) pulled back to within two points, 24-22, after senior wide receiver Tim Wright caught a five-yard TD pass from Dodd and San Te kicked an extra point. On the next RU possession, the Scarlet Knights failed to move the ball out of their own territory. From there, UNC used four plays and a five-yard offsides penalty from RU to run down the clock.