Ray Rice ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns on Friday night, leading No. 23 Rutgers to a 22-20 victory over South Florida in their first game as a ranked team in 30 years.
Jeremy Ito kicked field goals of 32, 40 and 53 yards for Rutgers (5-0, 1-0 Big East), which is unbeaten for the first time since 1976 -- thanks to South Florida (3-2, 0-1) failing to make a two-point conversion with 15 seconds left.
Matt Grothe threw a 16-yard TD pass to Ean Randolph to give USF a chance to send the game into overtime, but the quarterback's pass on the conversion attempt was dropped by a wide-open Amp Hill in the left side of the end zone.
Rice matched a school record with his seventh consecutive 100-yard game, boosting his season total to 806 yards and 11 touchdowns. He scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and added a 6-yarder that gave Rutgers the lead for good early in the fourth.
Grothe completed 16 of 25 passes for 241 yards and one TD for South Florida. He also scored on runs of 1 and 22 yards, but his three second-half turnovers -- two interceptions and a fumble -- helped Rutgers overcome a 14-10 deficit.
Rutgers cracked the Top 25 this week for the first time since its 1976 perfect season.
The sophomore entered Friday night averaging 151 yards per game rushing and carried seven times for 39 yards on the Scarlet Knights' opening 79-yard touchdown drive. Ito's first field goal gave Rutgers a 10-0 lead before Grothe rallied South Florida to its halftime lead.
Grothe turned the game around by leading two long TD drives in a 3:45 span in the second quarter. He used completions of 35 yards to Amarri Jackson and 32 yards to Taurus Johnson to set up his 1-yard scoring run, then took advantage of Trae Williams' fifth interception of the season to put the Bulls ahead 14-10 on his 22-yard TD run.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely