Football Falls at Rutgers, 31-6

Saturday, September 27

Piscataway, N.J.

11:00 AM

Tulane University

1-4

Rutgers

4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane Green Wave

Rutgers

<b>Dante Butler celebrates with Sherman Badie after the 86-yard touchdown run</b>

Sep 27, 2014 | Football

Box Score

Sept. 27, 2014

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Redshirt freshman Sherman Badie's second career 100-yard rushing game was not enough for the Tulane University football team on Saturday afternoon in a 31-6 loss to host Rutgers at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Badie scored the Green Wave's (1-4) lone touchdown on the day when he broke loose on the right side and outran the Rutgers (4-1) defense for an 86-yard touchdown run with 5:08 left in the second quarter. However, freshman kicker Andrew DiRocco missed the PAT, leaving the score 21-6.

Badie finished the game with 108 Yards on 12 carries, giving him a pair of 100-yard games in his first five collegiate contests. The Metairie, La., had 215 yards rushing in the season-opener at Tulsa.

"I thought Coach (Kyle) Flood did a great job with his team," Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson said. "They ran the ball very well today. They are a big, physical and athletic team. The receivers were great and the quarterback played really, really well. Their defense blitzed us all day and was able to come up with some sacks. This is a very good football team. Defensively, we gave up some big plays early and got behind. We rarely give up big plays and that is uncharacteristic of us, but credit Rutgers coaching staff on their game plan."

The Rutgers offense was on display early on in the game, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions, while the Scarlet Knights defense, along with untimely Tulane penalties, led to three Green Wave punts in the opening half.

The Scarlet Knights took the opening kickoff and marched 53 yards in 10 plays. Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova hit receiver Leonte Carroo on a three-yard touchdown pass for a quick 7-0 lead.

Following a Tulane three-and-out, Nova marched the Scarlet Knights to paydirt on a drive that went 80 yards in just three plays. Nova found Carroo once again on a 25-yard scoring strike to give the home team a 14-0 lead.

The Green Wave put together a promising driving in the late stages of the first quarter and opening minutes of the second quarter. Quarterback Tanner Lee found freshman receiver Teddy Veal on a 40-yard catch-and-run and put the Green Wave on the Rutgers side of the field. Tulane eventually made its way down to the nine-yard line following a rush by Badie. But an illegal block a Lee sack pushed the Green Wave back to the 36-yard line and Tulane was forced to punt.

On the ensuing possession, Rutgers began its third drive on its own 1-yard line following a great punt from junior Peter Picerelli. The Scarlet Knights ran for six yards on a pair of rushes and on third and four, Nova found Andre Turzilli on a 93-yard touchdown to take a 21-0 lead.

The Green Wave went three-and-out to start the third quarter. Rutgers was driving for what looked to be another score, but junior cornerback Lorenzo Doss squashed the drive with his first interception of the year and 13th for his career.

Tulane was unable to get going on the ensuing possession and Rutgers tacked on a field goal from 32 yards out by Kyle Federico to extend the home team's lead to 24-6 with 3:26 remaining in the third quarter.

The Scarlet Knights added one more touchdown in the fourth quarter when Nova hit Carroo from six-yards out to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive with 6:57 left.

Nova was 14-of-21 for 291 yards and four touchdowns. Carroo finished with seven catches for 140 yards and three scores.

Lee was seven-of-nine for 81 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with an injury. Sophomore Devin Powell was six-of-15 for 53 yards in relief. Badie also led the Green Wave with five receptions and had 39 receiving yards.

"Losing Tanner really impacted our game plan. Tanner practiced all week and received most of the reps. We also do quite a few reps each week to prepare Devin (Powell) and Nick (Montana), but the starter always receives the most. We had to cut down on what we were trying to do and really just wasn't effective. I thought Sherman (Badie) had a good game. He had over 100 yards rushing and Lazedrick (Thompson) had over four yards a carry, which was good. This bye week is coming at a good time for us. We will practice hard and clean up our mistakes and get ready for UConn," Johnson added.

Darion Monroe, who started his 30th straight game in the defensive backfield, led the Tulane defense with nine tackles, while Sam Scofield added six stops with a sack, and Nico Marley had six tackles with two for a loss.

The Green Wave will enjoy a week away from the gridiron before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they play host to American Athletic Conference foe UConn. Kickoff for that game is yet to be determined.

For tickets to that game, as well as future Green Wave events, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE (9283). The Tulane Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at the official website of Tulane Athletics - www.TulaneGreenWave.com.