NCAA Game Summary - South Florida at Rutgers

Piscataway, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Chas Dodd threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights posted a convincing 31-6 win over the South Florida Bulls in an American Athletic Conference season finale at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Dodd converted 19-of-24 passes for the Scarlet Knights (6-6, 3-5 AAC) as they snapped a three-game slide. Paul James led the rushing attack for the hosts with 113 yards and two scores on 26 carries.

With the victory the Scarlet Knights became bowl eligible for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and are now expected to be matched up against Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28.

The Bulls (2-10, 2-6), losers of six straight, were held to a touchdown or less for the fourth time this season. Quarterback Mike White converted just 14-of-31 passes for 141 yards, was sacked three times and tossed an interception. Because of those takedowns in the backfield, USF finished with a mere 10 net rushing yards on 20 attempts.

Rutgers opened up a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter as James registered a five-yard TD run at the 5:41 mark and, less than two minutes later, Dodd hooked up with Andre Patton for a 12-yard scoring strike.

The Bulls responded in the second frame when kicked Marvin Kloss knocked through a 24-yard field goal, capping a 13-play, 73-yard drive that stalled after more than seven minutes.

Kloss added a 29-yard field goal late in the first half as well, but not before Dodd found Michael Burton with a two-yard TD pass play for the Knights. Heading into the break, the hosts held a 21-6 advantage.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Rutgers struck again as James finished off a 14-play, 69-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth, followed by a 20-yard field goal by Joe Behnke in the final minute for good measure.

South Florida generated a mere 151 yards of offense on the night.