Grant can’t run Rutgers to win

JANARION GRANT did what he does best, but it still wasn’t enough for Rutgers.

Grant had a punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown, but it was overshadowed by Washington State’s Luke Falk, who led a 10-play, 90-yard touchdown drive capped by an eight-yard River Cracraft touchdown catch with 13 seconds left that lifted the Cougars past the Scarlet Knights, 37-34, Saturday in Piscataway.

Falk completed 47 of 66 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns against a depleted Rutgers secondary. Four defensive backs were dismissed from the team 10 minutes before the season opener last week.

While Grant tried to be the hero for Rutgers, he couldn’t return the final kickoff. The ball was kicked to Leonte Carroo and Rutgers tried to do its Stanford vs. California impression, before the ball was thrown forward after several laterals.

Grant had the best game of his collegiate career. With Rutgers trailing, 30-27, with 1:45 left, Grant returned a punt 55-yards for a touchdown to give Rutgers a 34-30 lead, the second of his special teams touchdowns. When asked why he punted to Grant, Washington State coach Mike Leach said, “There’s quite a lot of thought on that now.”

The playmaker returned a kickoff 100 yards to give Rutgers (1-1) its first lead of the game, 27-23, and finished with a school-record 339 total yards. “After I make that one player miss,” Grant said, “it’s out off the gates from there.”

Washington State (1-1) answered Grant’s 100-yard return with an eight play, 82-yard drive in 2:59. Falk hit Gabe Marks for a 23-yard touchdown catch. On its next two drives Rutgers negated two touchdowns with penalties.