PISCATAWAY, N.J. - A week after Gary Nova was knocked out on the first series against Eastern Michigan by two hits to the helmet that resulted in a concussion, the Arkansas Razorbacks got plenty of shots in on the Rutgers quarterback.
The Razorbacks sacked Nova five times, but they couldn’t knock him out.
Instead, for the second year in a row, it was Nova who landed the knockout punches as Rutgers rallied to beat Arkansas 28-24 on Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Nova threw two touchdown passes in the final 10 minutes to Leonte Carroo - for 33 yards on fourth-and-12 and for 4 yards on second and-goal - to complete Rutgers’ comeback from a 24-7 deficit in the third quarter.
“Even though it wasn’t always pretty for him up front - and I don’t think the protection was as clean as it needed to be early in the game - he hung in there and really toughed it out,” Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood said. “Gary’s greatest attribute is his competitive fire, and it does not surprise me that he can come through a game like that and perform like that in the fourth quarter.”
Nova was sacked three times, had a fumble recovered by Arkansas linebacker Jarrett Lake and had an interception returned for a touchdown by cornerback Tevin Mitchel in the first half, so it was debatable if he’d been too banged up to play in the second half.
But Nova took all 79 snaps for the Scarlet Knights and ended the game completing 22 of 43 passes for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“That just tells you he’s a battler,” said Arkansas defensive end Chris Smith, who sacked Nova for a 15-yard loss. “We made a lot of good hits on him, but he’s never going to quit. That’s what he showed last year. He’s a hell of a player. We heard all week he was kind of questionable, but he really came through for them.”
Nova, a junior, and Carroo, a sophomore, were teammates at Don Bosco Prep High School in Elmwood Park (N.J.).
“I’ve known him since I was 14 years old,” Nova said. “He’s one of my best friends. I think I have chemistry with all these guys, but obviously me and Leontee have been through so much together and I definitely trust him.
“We didn’t execute early on in one-on-one coverage, but we dialed it up later on.”
Nova took advantage of the Razorbacks in Rutgers’ 35-26 victory last season, when he completed 25 of 35 passes for career highs of 397 yards and 5 touchdowns.
In two games against Arkansas, Nova has completed 47 of 78 passes for 743 yards and 8 touchdowns.
“He’s a tough kid,” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. “I can see why they like him. He obviously converted when it mattered there.
“I thought some of those deep digs were thrown pretty well in there with the timing of those routes. That’s what you get when you’ve got an experienced quarterback that’s been working with those receivers, you can tell, all through the summer and fall camp.”
Arkansas free safety Eric Bennett said Rutgers’ receivers also broke out some surprises in the second half.
“They were running routes that we hadn’t seen before,” Bennett said.
“Rutgers just did a really good job in the fourth quarter,” Mitchel said. “They threw a lot of deep balls and quick routes. We had to adjust to them, but unfortunately it was too late.”
What they’re saying
BRIAN LEWIS NY POST
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Trailing at home by 17 in the third quarter, after being concussed the week before and hammered repeatedly Saturday afternoon, Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova gathered his team and told them they were going to come from behind and beat Arkansas. Then he and the Scarlet Knights did just that.
TOM CANAVAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Arkansas seemed to have its best start since 2003 secure - in New Jersey of all places.
The Razorbacks held a 17-point second-half lead, they were controlling play, and a frustrated Rutgers fan base seemed ready to head to the exits. But then Arkansas let the home team - and its crowd -back in it. An hour or so later, the Razorbacks were saddled instead with their first loss.
BRENDAN PRUNTY THE STAR-LEDGER
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Once he had ducked under the awning of the tunnel off of the field at High Point Solutions Stadium Saturday evening, Gary Nova then encountered his toughest obstacle of the day. Compared to the 98-yard drive he engineered earlier to ignite the 28-24 comeback victory over Arkansas, the jog up the ramp and then up the steep 24 stairs to the locker room was exhausting.
“Hate these stairs,” a winded Nova said once he reached the top.
If the greeting he received once he got there is anything like it was after the thrilling victory over the Razorbacks, he’ll gladly do it every time. After all, when you complete seven of 13 passes for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns in the game’s final 15 minutes, leading an offense that dropped 14 unanswered points on an SEC opponent - the cheers from the fans on the stairs is well worth the run.
Sports, Pages 32 on 09/22/2013