Slaton leads WVU past Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -In a game where a quarterback controversy may have emerged for Rutgers, a possible top tailback started to emerge for West Virginia. Steve Slaton ran for a career-high 139 yards and one touchdown in a driving rainstorm as West Virginia built an early lead and hung on for a 27-14 win over Rutgers on Saturday.
Operating in a four-tailback rotation, Slaton has rushed for 229 yards in the last two games and coach Rich Rodriguez acknowledged that, while he will continue to rotate backs, he may have to give the true freshmen more carries.
“Steve has got a little extra burst,” said Rodriguez, whose team took sole possession of first place in the Big East. “I think he’s going to keep getting better. He’s got an explosiveness to him and he’s pretty physical.”
Slaton also caught three passes for 35 yards, and said he is feeling more at ease with the more work he gets.
“I’ve just been playing with determination, trying to prove myself,” Slaton said. “I’m getting more carries, more rhythm. There’s a lot more game planning just with me in the mix.”
In losing for the 11th straight time to West Virginia (5-1, 2-0 Big East), Rutgers (3-2, 1-1) left observers wondering about its quarterback situation.
Senior Ryan Hart, who holds nearly every Scarlet Knights passing record and made his school record 37th consecutive start Saturday, was replaced by redshirt freshman Mike Teel at the end of the half, and again in the fourth quarter. Freshman Tiquan Underwood also took eight snaps as a shotgun quarterback and gained 37 yards.
Hart finished 9-for-16 for 66 yards with one interception, while Teel was 9-for-15 for 105 yards and two interceptions.
Teel actually led Rutgers to its first score, but by then the Knights trailed 21-0 as special teams and the defense scored or set up West Virginia’s three touchdowns
The first came when Thandi Smith blocked Joe Radigan’s punt, then recovered it at the one-yard-line and carried it into the end zone.
Rutgers next two possessions ended with turnovers that West Virginia converted into points.
Uniontown graduate Kevin McLee recovered a Ray Rice fumble at the 28-yard line and Slaton scored five plays later. On Rutgers next series, Mike Lorello intercepted Teel at the West Virginia seven-yard line. The Mountaineer offense responded with a 93-yard drive, capped by Adam Bednarik’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Myles.
Rutgers offense finally came to life as Teel’s passing and Brian Leonard’s running paced an 80-yard drive that culminated in Leonard’s one-yard touchdown run that made it 21-7 at halftime. Leonard finished with 76 yards.
WVU padded the lead on its first possession of the third quarter, getting a 45-yard field goal from Pat McAfee. Hart returned and the Knights responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Leonard to cut the deficit to 10 entering the final quarter.
With 9:16 remaining, West Virginia went on a 68-yard drive that consumed 5:00 and resulted in a 35-yard field goal by McAfee.