The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-4) picked up their 9th win of the 2011 season and completed a five-game improvement over 2010 when they defeated the Iowa St. Cyclones (6-7), 27-13, in the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 30 at Yankee Stadium. The win was the fifth in a row in a bowl game (the nation's longest active streak) for Rutgers.
Iowa State saw their first two promising drives end in field goals. The Cyclones took their 6-0 lead into the second quarter. Rutgers started to run the ball effectively in the second quarter and scored 20 unanswered points (17 in the second quarter). Iowa State got a touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to seven points, but a Brandon Coleman 86-yard touchdown reception with 5:47 to play sealed the win for Rutgers.
As we have profiled in the Positive Impact Factor all season long, Rutgers' defense was the best in the Big East against opposing quarterbacks. Once again the Scarlet Knights shutdown the other team's quarterback play. Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett combined for zero touchdowns and three turnovers. The three turnovers in the game added up to the 25th turnover Rutgers has forced from opposing quarterbacks in 2011. The Scarlet Knights rush defense held Iowa State to 91 yards on 29 carries.
The Rutgers quarterbacks only needed a solid game if the rushing game was working. Both things were happening in the Pinstripe Bowl. Chas Dodd and Gary Nova combined for 13/24 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown. Dodd also had 12 yards rushing. Mohamed Sanu was the favorite target with 6 catches for 62 yards. Jawan Jamison had 27 carries for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns (Rutgers averaged 91.5 rush yards per game). Jamison was named the Player of the Game.
The Big East is now 1-1 in bowl games during the 2011 season.
For more coverage of the Pinstripe Bowl, visit the SB Nation New York storystream, our Rutgers blog On The Banks or our Iowa St. blog Wide Right & Natty Lite. For more coverage of the Big East's bowl season, check out our bowl games section.