WEST POINT, N.Y. — Paul James rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns, and Rutgers beat Army 31-21 on Saturday to snap a four-game losing streak.
Rutgers (4-7) has won nine straight in the series with Army (2-9). The Black Knights finish the season against archrival Navy in December, their last chance to make something of a season with too many tantalizingly close losses.
Six of Army’s losses were by a combined 26 points — two on field goals at home on the final play — and this one followed form until the end, even with a freshman at quarterback.
Army was poised to pull within a field goal with 5:22 left in the fourth quarter when Josh Hicks’ interception in the end zone sealed it for the Scarlet Knights. Army fell to 1-12 when trailing at halftime under Jeff Monken, in his second year as head coach.
Chris Carter, who took first-team snaps at quarterback in Army practices during the week while starter Ahmad Bradshaw wore a boot on an injured right foot, made his first career start as backup A.J. Schurr also was injured. Aside from the interception and a lost fumble on a quick snap that Rutgers converted into a touchdown, Carter did a solid job.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound native of Imperial, California gained 111 yards rushing on 20 carries and scored once, and was spot-on with several pitches to help key Army’s triple option, which put up 401 yards. Carter also completed 4 of 6 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown as Army converted 9 of 13 third downs.
Rutgers led by 10 points at the half and James bolted 54 yards on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. He scored on a 1-yard run at the 11:21 mark of the third for a 31-14 lead.
Still, the Black Knights refused to wilt. Carter hit Edgar Poe for a 65-yard touchdown as Poe made a terrific catch on the right side and tight-roped his way into the end zone to close the gap to 31-21 in the final minute of the third quarter.
The Army defense then forced a three-and-out that was negated by a roughing-the-kicker penalty, held again and forced another punt before Carter threw the costly interception.
Army dug an early hole for itself in the first quarter as Rutgers blocked a field goal and Carter fumbled. The Scarlet Knights capitalized on both mistakes to take a 14-0 lead. Two of Army’s five first-half possessions started inside its own 15 while Rutgers started three drives not far from midfield and never further back than its own 34.
After Kevin Wilkins blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt by Army, Janarion Grant’s 29-yard run set up a 7-yard scoring run by James midway through the first quarter.
Carter’s fumble was recovered by Hicks at the Army 39, and Grant went to work again. He gained 11 yards on a reverse, Chris Laviano hit a wide-open Leonte Carroo in the left flat for 17 yards to the Army 6, and James scored from the 1 in the final minute of the quarter.
Laviano finished 13-of-21 passing for 105 yards and no turnovers.
The Black Knights broke through early in the second. Carter hit a wide-open Poe for 30 yards on a ball that Poe had to stop and wait for, and Aaron Kemper followed with a 38-yard touchdown run over left tackle.
Rutgers gained a 21-7 lead on Martin’s 5-yard run midway through the second before Carter struck again. Undaunted by his first-ever action on the field, Carter keyed another scoring drive with a 45-yard run down the right side. His 1-yard run narrowed the Rutgers lead to 21-14 with 69 seconds left in the half.
Kyle Federico’s 41-yard field goal grazed the crossbar as it caromed over as time expired in the half, giving the Scarlet Knights a 24-14 halftime lead.
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