Rutgers faces its biggest test (again) this Saturday
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

Here we go again. The Rutgers University football field will be the talk of the state this week as it prepares for the latest version of "the biggest game in team history."

The Scarlet Knights head down to West Virginia this weekend to take on the WVU Mountaineers, where they will try to earn their first Big East championship, and with it, a trip to its first BCS bowl game.

This past Saturday the Rutgers football team defeated Syracuse University by the final score of 38-7 in the team's final home game of the regular season.

The Big East victory improved Rutgers' overall record to 10-1, and 5-1 inside the Big East.

"This is about being 10-1. How many people thought that would be the case, and now we have a great opportunity in front of us," said Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano.

Senior fullback Brian Leonard became the career scoring leader in Rutgers history as he scored two rushing touchdowns, with the second score sparking a bit of controversy. Leonard was given the ball with Rutgers already up 31-7 in the fourth quarter, and was given the chance by Schiano to score a touchdown, making him the all-time leading scorer in Rutgers history with 266 career points, breaking the previous record of 261 points, set by place-kicker Kennan Starzell.

For Rutgers' fans it was a special moment meant to celebrate the career of the player who has become the face of the RU program under Schiano's lead. For some who are not RU fans, it has been viewed as poor judgment on the coach's part, running up the score against a defeated team.

But here in New Jersey, at least no one is blaming the coach for allowing Leonard, the guy who has stuck it out through thick and thin and has provided local football fans with spectacular highlights his entire career, to have the opportunity to break the record at home, instead of having him do it on the road, where he undoubtedly would not get the recognition he deserves.

"That touchdown was very important. I thought it would be a really special thing for a guy that's done so much for this program to score and break that record here at home. To do it at home, to me, it seemed like the right thing to do," Schiano said.

Leonard finished the game with 133 total yards. He carried the ball 19 times for 106 yards, and the remainder of his yards came on caught passes and the run afterward. The senior also scored two rushing touchdowns, including the one that will be put in Rutgers' record books.

"There was a lot of emotion today. I had tears in my eyes, seeing all the seniors on the team taking the field for the last time. I am very thankful for everything Rutgers has given me. Everything that happened today means so much to me and I will remember this for the rest of my life," Leonard said.

Leonard was one of several Rutgers players to enjoy his Saturday afternoon. Running back Ray Rice gained 107 yards on 23 carries. Freshman wide receiver Kenny Britt caught four passes for 94 yards, a career best, while also scoring his first two career touchdowns.

"I thought Kenny really played well and he's been coming on the last couple of weeks. He's a tremendous athlete and he's building those skills. He's one of those elite guys and there's no limit to what he can do," said Schiano.

Defensively, Rutgers was very good. Senior linebacker Quainter Frierson made a career-high 10 tackles. Sophomore safety Courtney Greene had an interception, his fourth of the season, while also recording nine tackles and forcing a fumble.

Rutgers will close its regular season in Morgantown against the Mountaineers at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN next Saturday night.

West Virginia entered the past weekend ranked seventh in the nation only to be upset by South Florida, 24-19. The Bulls' defense found a way to slow down the Mountaineers' vaunted rushing game, holding the nation's second leading rusher, Steve Slaton, to just 43 yards, 115 below his season average.

You can be sure Schiano and his coaches will be studying the game films of this contest when game-planning for this weekend's match-up.

In addition, WVU quarterback Pat White injured his ankle and was ineffective for most of the second half, with his status for this weekend's game with RU a point of concern for WVU.

A win on Saturday night would give the Scarlet Knights the Big East title, and would earn them a spot in a major bowl game - likely either the Orange or the Rose Bowl - on New Year's Day.

Rutgers has never won a game in Morgantown, and will enter Saturday night's game as an underdog - a role they've handled quite well this year.

For all the acclaim the Scarlet Knights received for beating Louisville on national television, the skeptics were just as boisterous following RU's shocking loss to Cincinnati just two weeks later.

This Saturday night, Rutgers has another chance to prove they are indeed among the elite teams in the nation.

This game now becomes the biggest game in Rutgers football history.

Here we go again.