It wasn't easy, but the Rutgers University football team is headed back to the postseason for the fifth time in six years. The Scarlet Knights trailed South Florida by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter Saturday night, but Jeremy Deering's 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown sparked a late comeback and San San Te's 37-yard field goal sealed a 20-17 overtime victory. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Rutgers and made the Scarlet Knights bowl eligible.
Rutgers' offense produced just three points through the first three quarters as the Bulls (4-4, 0-4 Big East) built a 17-3 lead on Demetris Murray's four-yard touchdown run with 7:38 to play. Deering's kickoff return that followed tied the third-longest in school history before Rutgers (6-3, 3-2 Big East) tied the game on their next possession. Mohamed Sanu made seven catches on the 80-yard drive, but it was Brandon Coleman who hauled in the game-tying pass with 1:08 remaining, a 34-yard strike from quarterback Chas Dodd, who replaced starter Gary Nova to start the fourth quarter.
South Florida had a chance to win the game in regulation after it drove the ball to the Rutgers10, but Maikon Bonani missed a 27-yard field goal as time ran out. Bulls quarterback B.J. Daniels was intercepted by Duron Harmon to start the overtime period, setting up San San Te's game-winner.
- Visit On the Banks for complete coverage of Rutgers football throughout the season.