Below The Beltway

The Scarlet Knights of my alma mater are off to their best start in three decades after defeating South Florida 22-20 last night.

TAMPA, Fla. — Rutgers’ stay in the Top 25 was nearly a short one. In the school’s first game as a ranked team in three decades, the No. 23 Scarlet Knights held on for a 22-20 victory when South Florida failed to make a two-point conversion with 15 seconds remaining Friday night.

“It means a lot to this program,” fullback Brian Leonard said. “I don’t think a lot of people thought we should be ranked at this point. After this game, I think we proved that we should be.”

Ray Rice ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns for Rutgers (5-0, 1-0 Big East), which is unbeaten through five games for the first time since 1976 _ the last season the Scarlet Knights also appeared in The Associated Press poll.

Jeremy Ito kicked field goals of 32, 40 and 53 yards but had a 42-yarder that would have clinched the game blocked, giving South Florida an opportunity to make it interesting at the end.

Matt Grothe threw a 16-yard TD pass to Ean Randolph to give USF a chance to send it 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.

The Bulls recovered the ensuing onside kick, but the officials ruled a South Florida player touched ball before it traveled 10 yards and awarded possession to Rutgers.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to win this game,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “On the road, down at the half, that’s what you need to do.”

Good for them. I’m not sure how long this will last,? but its nice to see.