Martinek and Rutgers run all over Army

Updated Saturday, October 24th 2009, 3:41 PM

Groll/AP

Rutgers running back Joe Martinek scores a fourth quarter touchdown against Army runs for 139 yards on 25 carries.

ANYONE WHO thought the weather at Michie Stadium last night was dreary clearly wasn't paying attention to what was going on down on the field at West Point.

Rutgers didn't beat Army as much as it won by default - thanks largely to the largesse of the home team. The Scarlet Knights were given three fumbles and a blocked punt to work with on a soggy, raw evening, and tailback Joe Martinek did most of the rest as they pulled away for a 27-10 victory.

Rutgers (5-2) finished the non-conference part of its schedule at 5-0 - and had a running back go for 100 yards each time. The Knights did not have a 100-yard rusher in their losses to Cincinnati and Pitt. Martinek scored two touchdowns and rushed for 139 yards on 25 carries - his third 100-yard effort this season - in a game in which the offense struggled most of the time. His second score, a 6-yard run with 11:56 to play, boosted Rutgers' lead to 27-10 and followed Army's third lost fumble.

The Black Knights had chances to get closer than 20-10 in the third quarter but lost fumbles on consecutive possessions.

Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage battled through an uneven game (10-of-20 for 164 yards) that saw the offense manage just two touchdown drives that totaled 91 yards - one week after the Knights managed two touchdown drives against Pittsburgh that totaled 60 yards.

Savage, making his first ever road start, seemed to be struggling early at times with the wet, rainy conditions - though not nearly as much as the suddenly stagnant running game (30 yards on 19 carries in the first half). In fact, if not for the sudden emergence of the special teams - dormant most of the season - the Scarlet Knights would not have had anywhere near the comfort of a 17-3 lead they had at halftime.

Rutgers' first touchdown was set up by the special teams, with Joe Lefeged giving Savage and Co. a short field following a 35-yard kickoff return after Army had grabbed a 3-0 lead. Savage and Rutgers needed just eight plays to go the remaining 54 yards, with Martinek bouncing off several would-be tacklers to finish the drive off with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Knights then added a 27-yard field goal a series later to extend their lead to 10-3.

Then the special teams came through yet again. Army's Jonathan Bulls, trying a rugby-style punt by rolling right, dropped the snap before scrambling to get it. When he tried to punt it, true freshman Steve Beauharnais broke through to block the punt. He scooped it up at the 11 and raced in for the touchdown.