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Rice Carries Rutgers To Victory

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The Associated Press

Published: January 6, 2008

TORONTO - Ray Rice ran over Ball State and through the 2,000-yard barrier in the International Bowl, giving Rutgers the second postseason win in its 138-year history.

Rice had four touchdowns and 280 yards, including a career-long 90-yard score to lift the Scarlet Knights to a 52-30 win in the International Bowl on Saturday.

Rutgers (8-5), which played the first college football game, hadn't won a bowl game before last year. Now the program has won two in a row, following a 37-10 win over Kansas State in the 2006 Texas Bowl with another blowout.

Ball State (7-6), meanwhile, is still waiting for its first bowl win in four tries.

Rice, whose 25 touchdowns this season are a school record, has yet to announce whether he'll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Players who choose to declare for the draft must do so by Jan. 15.

His coach, Greg Schiano, already made a similar decision. After speaking with Michigan about the Wolverines' job opening in December, Schiano stayed with Rutgers.

Rice made that decision look wise on Saturday.

On the Scarlet Knights' first drive of the third quarter, Rice took the ball at his own 10-yard line, broke through the line of scrimmage and raced down the left sideline, fighting off two tacklers before diving into the end zone.

Rice ended the third with a 12-yard run, making him the first Big East player to break 2,000 yards. Rice's 2,012 yards this season are behind only Central Florida's Kevin Smith and Tulane's Matt Forte.

Rice has topped 100 yards in a school-record eight straight games.

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