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Martinek helps Rutgers rout Texas Southern 42-0

Oct 10, 2009 - 11:11 PM By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer

PISCATAWAY, N.J.(AP) -- Joe Martinek scored on runs of 9 and 15 yards and Rutgers won its 600th game with a 42-0 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday.

Freshman Tom Savage returned to the starting lineup after missing the Scarlet Knights' last game with a concussion and threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown.

Jourdan Brooks also scored on a 5-yard run, David Rowe added a 56-yard interception return and De'Antwan Williams rushed for a 44-yard touchdown as Rutgers (4-1) won its fourth straight game.

Rutgers forced four turnovers and recorded seven sacks in limiting Texas Southern (1-4) to 126 total yards.

Arvell Nelson was 13-for-27 for 151 yards with two interceptions for the Tigers, who had minus-25 yards rushing.

Texas Southern was Rutgers' second Football Championship Subdivision opponent this season. The NCAA allows Football Bowl Subdivision schools to count only one victory over an FCS opponent toward the six-win minimum to qualify for a bowl berth.

The positive for Texas Southern was that it got a $400,000 payday to come to the birthplace of college football.

Rutgers played the first college game against Princeton in 1869. The Scarlet Knights are now 600-591-42 in their 140-year history. They are the 38th FCS school to win 600 games.

Rowe, a reserve defensive back, gave Rutgers the lead for good, stepping in front of a Nelson pass at the Scarlet Knights' 44 and followed a wall of blockers down the sideline for his first career touchdown.

A short punt, a personal foul and an 18-yard pass from Savage (14 of 21 for 150 yards) to Brown set up Martinek's 9-yard TD run late in the first quarter.

A 28-yard scramble by Savage was the big play in the 67-yard drive that Martinek capped with his 15-yard run.

Martinek played only in the first half and finished with 51 yards on eight carries.

Jourdan had runs of 11 and 12 yards on the 53-yard touchdown drive that he capped with his 5-yard score for a 28-0 halftime lead.

Three straight tackles for losses and a short punt set up Savage's touchdown pass to Brown in the third quarter.

Williams, who gained 117 yards on 14 carries in taking over for Martinek and Brooks in the fourth quarter, closed out the scoring with his 44-yard run.

Jonathan Freeny had 2 1/2 sacks for Rutgers and George Johnson and Justin Francis had two apiece.