Gary Nova tossed for a career high 397 passing yards and five touchdowns Saturday to propel the visiting Rutgers Scarlet Knights past the Arkansas Razorbacks, 35-26, at Razorback Stadium. The victory helped Rutgers improve to 4-0, while the Razorbacks fell to 1-3.
The Scarlet Knights' solidifying score came on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Nova to wide receiver Mark Harrison, giving Rutgers a nine-point edge with 7:20 remaining in the game. The score snapped a streak of 12 unanswered points by the Razorbacks, who had cut the Scarlet Knights' lead to 28-26 with 8:19 to go in the fourth.
After Rutgers' final touchdown, Arkansas had a chance to respond, but quarterback Tyler Wilson was picked off by Rutgers' defensive back Duron Harmon on the drive's first play. From there, the Scarlet Knights' offense was able to drain the remaining 3:29 off the clock using running back Jawan Jamison, who ran the ball five times and was able to pick up a game-ending first down.
Overall, Nova completed 25 of 35 passes and didn't throw an interception to outduel Wilson, who finished 20-for-39 for 419 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions.
Jamison rushed for his fifth straight 100-yard game, as he finished with 118 yards on 33 carries. Wide receiver Brandon Coleman caught a team-high six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns for Rutgers. Harrison finished with four catches and 87 yards to help the Scarlet Knights cover the 8-1/2-point spread and easily make the over/under (50-1/2 points).
Meanwhile, wide receiver Cobi Hamilton was Arkansas' lone bright spot, as he finished the game with 10 catches for 303 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Next week, Arkansas visits the Texas A&M Aggies, while Rutgers has a week off.
This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.
For more on this game, check out the SB Nation blogs On The Banks and Arkansas Expats.
