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Nova's 3 TDs Leads Rutgers To First Big Ten Win

MATT SUGAM, Associated Press

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Gary Nova got his redemption, and Rutgers may have finally gotten a little respect.

After throwing five interceptions in Rutgers' inaugural Big Ten game against Penn State, Nova threw for a career-best 404 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-24 win over slumping Michigan on Saturday night.

"Redemption for the whole team. He threw some interceptions (against Penn State), but at the end of the game, the defense had a chance to win (and didn't). I think this was the same example," defensive end David Milewski said. "At the end of the game we had a chance to win and we stood tall at the end."

No one more so than Kemoko Turay.

The Wolverines were driving for a go-ahead score late when Amara Darboh dropped a third-down pass at the Rutgers 30 that would have given the Wolverines a first down.

Michigan went for the long field goal and Turay jumped high to block Matt Wile's 56-yard attempt with 3:01 to go.

"The first thing I think about is just going high. Count the kickers steps, focus on his steps and just go as high as I can," Turay said. "And that's what I did to get the block."

Rutgers ran out the clock after the block — Rutgers' nation-leading 40th since 2009 — and the sellout crowd of 53,327 waited until Michigan walked off the field before they ran to join players in a celebration that featured them singing the school alma mater.

Nova found Andrew Turzilli on scoring passes of 80 and 14 yards and hit John Tsimis with a 7-yarder as the Scarlet Knights (5-1, 1-1) won their first Big Ten Conference game and sent Michigan (2-4, 0-2) to its third straight loss.

"Very exciting. It's the first Big Ten win in Rutgers' history," wide receiver Leonte Carroo said. "I can't really explain it. I'm just happy all the dedication we put in and the blood sweat and tears we put in the offseason has truly paid off and now we know that we're going to start getting more respect and that's what we wanted."

The Scarlet Knights are now one win away from being bowl eligible in their first season in the Big Ten, a year nearly everyone picked them to finish at the bottom of the pack.

Nova finished 22 of 39 and did not throw an interception, which has been his downfall in his four seasons. Kyle Federico added two field goals.

Rutgers led 19-17 at the half, with the 7-yarder to Tsimis, capping a 10-play, 59-yard drive and put it in front for good.

Michigan came into the game with the nation's ninth best defense, yielding an average of 283.4 yards in five games.

Nova passed for 282 yards in the first half, hitting Turzilli on an 80-yard catch and run on a deep post pattern and Tsimis on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the half.

The last throw was impressive because Michigan defensive end Frank Clark had a clean shot at sacking Nova and missed and that set up the scoring pass.

Turzilli got his second TD catch early in the fourth quarter, converting a first-and-goal from the Michigan 24. It matched the amount of touchdowns he had at Kansas before transferring as a fifth-year graduate student.

"It's surprising, but for me, I've always had the confidence in myself, I've always had the ability," Turzilli said. "I knew in the right offense I'd flourish, so that's one of the reasons I made the move."

Michigan had taken a 17-12 second-quarter lead late in the second quarter after easily stopping Rutgers' a fourth-down fake punt from its own 45.

De'Veon Smith capped the short drive with a 1-yard run after a 28-yard pass from Gardner to Jehu Chesson gave the Wolverines at first and goal.

Gardner also scored on a 4-yard run and Matt Wile kicked a 39-yard field goal for Michigan in the first half.

Federico had field goals of 35 and 45 yards for Rutgers on its first two possessions.

"Just to give that spark to this university - I feel like they've been waiting for it for a while," Nova said, adding, "to be the first victory in the Big Ten in the school's history is amazing."

Rutgers has a bye week, while Michigan will play Penn State next weekend.

"It is extremely frustrating, playing the whole game and not being able to capitalize and get the W," Michigan linebacker Joe Bolden said. "The one thing I did notice and you can see it just being with the team is that we stay together. We love each other just like a family and, as you saw in the fourth quarter, things are coming together. We are starting to get our things to get and work towards our goal."

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(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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