Rutgers beats Florida International 23-15

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Linebacker Ryan D'Imperio scored on a 38-yard interception return in the fourth quarter to cap a magnificent effort by Rutgers' defense and the Scarlet Knights defeated Florida International 23-15 on Saturday.

Rutgers (2-1) limited Florida International (0-2) to 99 yards in the first three quarters, forced three turnovers and sacked quarterback Paul McCall five times before giving up a two meaningless touchdowns in the final 6:51.

San San Te kicked field goals of 39, 29 and 27 yards, Joe Martinek ran for 121 yards and backup quarterback Dom Natale capped a 94-yard drive with a 2-yard run as the Scarlet Knights posted their second straight win with freshman Tom Savage starting at quarterback.

Savage struggled against an aggressive Golden Panthers' defense and spent the final 12 minutes on the bench after being dinged when he was sacked for the fourth time. He finished 11 of 28 for 185 yards and no interceptions, but that was good enough in a game in which the Scarlet Knights' defense limited FIU to 260 total yards, with 145 coming on their final two drives.

McCall got FIU on the board with an 8-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton. The two also connected on a 14-yard scoring pass and a 2-point conversion in the final minute.

Rutgers recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Neither offense did much early and Rutgers defense came up with the first big play.

Backup safety Khaseem Greene made his first career interception and returned the ball 32 yards to the Golden Panthers' 22 midway through the first quarter. Te converted from 39 yards for a 3-0 lead after Savage threw three incompletions.

Savage finally generated some offense midway through the second quarter, engineering a 10-play, 94-yard drive that featured plays by three different quarterbacks and a crucial pass interference call against FIU in the end zone on third-and-21.

Savage started the drive with a 19-yard pass to Mohamed Sanu, Martinek had a 25-yard run and Savave converted a 34-yard pass to Tim Brown, who had four catches for 131 yards.

After the pass interference gave Rutgers a first down at the FIU 13, quarterback Jabu Lovelace came in to run a wildcat set and had gains of 8 and 3 yards.

Natale then came in and scored on an option keeper for a 10-0 lead with 6:32 left in the second quarter.

Te added his 29-yard field goal just before halftime after the defense forced the Golden Panthers to punt from their 12.

He added his last field goal early in the fourth quarter after Savage led a 14-play, 70-yard drive that featured a 31-yard pass to Brown, 19-yard run by Martinek and a 23-yard run by Lovelace.

Savage was hurt on the play before the field goal but ran off the field.

D'Imperio iced the game by picking off McCall and scampering down the right sideline almost untouched for his first career touchdown.

McCall, who hurt his right knee in the first quarter and missed a few series while having a brace put on, finished 24 of 37 for 197 yards.

Hilton had nine catches for 80 yards. However, FIU was held to 42 yards rushing.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)